Brooklyn Prays for France

 Brooklyn residents, religious leaders and elected officials gathered in Carroll Park Sunday night for a candlelight vigil to honor the victims of terrorism in Paris.

 The event was organized by Borough President Eric Adams. Religious leaders prayed in Hebrew, English, Arabic and French. Elected officials spoke of unity in the face of terror, and sent a message to France: "We are with you."

 A few hundred people walked with candles to St. Agnes Church, where a service was held.

Terror victims in Kenya and Lebanon were also remembered, and officials carried their flags along the route, next to the flags of the U.S. and France.


Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

One World Trade Center Lit Blue, White and Red in Solidarity with People of Paris

Photo by MK Metz

Governor Andrew Cuomo ordered that the lights of One World Trade Center’s 408-foot spire to be lit in blue, white and red Friday night and in the days ahead in solidarity with the people of Paris.

“Today’s horrific attacks in Paris have moved us all, and the more we learn, the more our hearts ache,” said Governor Cuomo. “These were cowardly acts of evil by people who have inexplicably chosen to believe in radical hatred above all else. We reject that kind of extremism – choosing instead the bonds of liberty, equality and fraternity that bring us together.

"Today, and in the days ahead, New York will light One World Trade Center in blue, white and red as we stand in solemn solidarity with the people of France, just as they have done for us in our own times of tragedy. We join them in mourning those who were killed, and in praying for those who were injured or lost loved ones. And we continue to stand side by side with them in our commitment to a free and peaceful world.”

The New York State Police, the New York State Intelligence Center and the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services are actively monitoring the situation for any implications in New York State and remain in constant communication with their local and federal partners.

New Yorkers are reminded to report any suspicious activity. Reports can be made to:

Counter Terrorism Center at the New York State Intelligence Center
Terrorism Tip Line: 1-866-SAFENYS (1-866-723-3697)
ctcenter@nysic.ny.gov
"If You See Something, Say Something"

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

Lufthansa Mobster Walks Free; Idiots Who Pointed Lasers at Helicopters Arrested; and More Brooklyn Briefs

- Vincent Asaro, 80, the mobster accused of plotting the 1978 Lufthansa airline heist, walked out of the federal courthouse in Brooklyn a free man. [Bloomberg]

- Police took two people into custody Wednesday night for allegedly shining a laser pointer at aircraft flying over Brooklyn. [NY Magazine]

- Is it a rave? Eight days before the techno festival Time Warp is set to begin in Crown Heights, officials push the city to nix it. [DNAinfo]

- An anti-gentrification protest is planned for the Brooklyn Real Estate Summit being held at the Brooklyn Museum. [BanGentrification]

- The pickleback was invented in Brooklyn. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- Brooklyn rich people are way more liberal than Manhattan rich people.  [Patch]

- The NYPD will increase enforcement against reckless driving after 12 pedestrians were killed over the last week and a half. [DNAinfo]

- Almost a million people in NYC still lack health insurance. Two Brooklyn neighborhoods stand out. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- The 61st Precinct’s commanding officer says a recent uptick in burglaries was caused by drug addiction. [Sheepshead Bites]

- Everything you need to know about Saturday's Democratic debate. [Politico]


Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

Sen. Squadron Invites You To An MTA Bus Town Hall Next Tuesday

Have an idea to improve bus service in your neighborhood or want to raise some issues?

State Sen. Daniel Squadron invites you to an MTA bus service town hall on Tuesday. Nov. 17 at 6:30 p.m.

Squadron represents the 26th Senate District, which includes the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Greenpoint, Williamsburg, Vinegar Hill, DUMBO, Fulton Ferry, Brooklyn Heights, Downtown Brooklyn, Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, and Columbia Waterfront, and the Manhattan neighborhoods of Tribeca, Battery Park City, the Lower East Side, Chinatown, the Financial District, Little Italy, SoHo, and the East Village.


Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

More Than 850 Marine Park Customers Lose Power Thursday Night/ Friday Morning: Con Edison

More than 850 Marine Park customers lost power last night, Con Ed reports. The outage map shows that more than 70 buildings were hit.

The company expects to fix the problem for many by morning. Check with Con Ed for specifics.


Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

Michael Wright's Body Found in Midwood, and More Brooklyn Briefs

- Former Knicks draft pick Michael Wright found dead of head wound and covered in garbage bags in SUV in Midwood. Cops investigate theory it was a Grindr hookup gone bad.  [NY Daily News]

- Sad photo: Reward offered after abused dog found in East Flatbush parking lot. [ABC7]

- City students are skipping class once every 10 days. [NY Post]


- Carroll Gardens' Black Mountain Wine House on Forbes' top 10 cozy bar list. [Forbes]

- When the flashing red hand appears on crosswalk signs, pedestrians lose the right of way. Public Advocate Letitia James wants to change that. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- Brooklyn man runs in charity race for Sandy Hook victim so he can question her family about truther theory. [NY Magazine]

- Someone from Vice had dinner with the Cast of 'The Bedford Stop,' the "most hated girls in Brooklyn." [Vice]

- Defend Brooklyn in this new Revolutionary War iOS game. [Technical.ly]

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

Guy Obsessed by Buses and Trains Is Arrested in Brooklyn with Stolen Greyhound Bus

"Greyhound Prevost X3-45" by Adam E. Moreira. Creative Commons

 Police arrested a man obsessed with trains and buses in Brooklyn for allegedly stealing a Greyhound bus out of the Port Authority Bus Terminal, NBC reports.

Greyhound was able to track the bus in Brooklyn using GPS. They pulled it over at 3rd Ave. and Union St.

Darius McCollum, 50, who has been a mega-fan of transport since he was a small child, has been arrested 29 times in the past. He has been diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome.

According to Wikipedia, McCollum had memorized the entire NYC subway system by the age of 7.

He has been rejected for employment by Transit Authority on numerous occasions, although he is reported to know more about the trains, schedules, procedures and rail operations than any current employee, according to Wikipedia.

He is known for wearing a mass transit employee uniform and courteously assisting customers and answering questions, or driving trains undetected for days, and has even become a bit of a cult figure.

According to PIX11, in 1981 he drove the E train to the World Trade Center at the age of 15.

Sadly, McCollum has spent more than a third of his life in prison for his habit of stealing mass transit vehicles.

UPDATE: NBC New York's Chopper 4 was hit by a laser while rushing to film McCollum's arrest. Reporters in the chopper tracked the folks with the laser and called police, who apprehended several suspects. 
 

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

Honoring Veterans Today

Color guard shows flags at Borough Hall during Veterans Day event. Photo: MK Metz

Today we say thank you to all veterans who have served America.

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

Bloomberg's Jab at De Blasio at the Al Smith Dinner; and More Brooklyn Briefs

Union-sponsored jab at fire-prone AvalonBay. In D'twn Brooklyn. Photo by MK Metz

- Some of the weirdest beards you've ever seen, at the National Beard Championship in Brooklyn. (Photos) [Brooklyn Eagle]

- Fatal crash in a Brooklyn creek, seen only on camera. [NY Times]

- Bloomberg at the Al Smith Dinner: "The only thing Mayor de Blasio ever showed up early to was the Brooklyn real-estate market.” [NY Post]

- Growing New York Comedy Festival takes over Brooklyn. [Variety]

- The spectacular hubris of the Brooklyn Nets. [Rolling Stone]

- Here’s why fast-food workers are striking in 500 U.S. cities, including Brooklyn. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- More on that 3-eyed catfish in the Gowanus Canal. [WFJA]

- Lucy Liu popped into Coney Island’s 60th Precinct Monday to film a scene for the CBS show 'Elementary.' [Bensonburst Bean]

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

Decent Soup Dumplings Finally Hit Brooklyn, and More Brooklyn Briefs

A man was struck and killed Monday after a car jumped the curb and flipped over in Flatbush: https://t.co/vpvSCnapjr

— NY1 News (@NY1) November 10, 2015

- A man was killed on Monday when a car jumped a curb on Flatbush Ave., flipped over and struck him while he was walking on the sidewalk. [NY1] and [NY Times]

- Decent soup dumplings finally come to Downtown Brooklyn. [Brooklyn Based]

- More lawsuits for Brooklyn charter accused of mistreating disabled students? [Brooklyn Eagle]

- Concerned about the Brooklyn Heights Library project? Contact Councilman Levin. [BHB]

- The Brooklyn tech scene is expected to rake in $15.5 billion by 2025, according to a report released by Brooklyn Tech Triangle on Monday. [Metro]

- Time-lapse animated wall mural created in Brooklyn (video). [CityLab]

- Did you catch this rendering of the 1,000-foot tower coming to Downtown Brooklyn? It will be New York City’s tallest building outside of Manhattan, and give Brooklyn "its first legitimate supertall skyscraper." [New York YIMBY]

- The White House is prepping for a huge solar storm that could kick us back into the Dark Ages...[Science Alert]

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.