Santa and Elves Join Battle for LICH in Brooklyn; Contempt Hearing Put Off Again

Santa, Brad Lander and Stephen Levin. Photos: MK metz

Santa Claus and his elves -- City Councilmen Brad Lander and Stephen Levin -- joined the battle to keep LICH open today in a holiday skit put on for a crowd outside Long Island College Hospital in Cobble Hill.

The skit was funny but the topic was serious. Participants said they were thankful that LICH is still open despite SUNY's numerous illegal attempts to shut it down.

Santa drew up a list of the naughty and the nice -- Gov. Cuomo got a big lump of coal in his stocking, along with the whole SUNY gang and the DOH.  The "nice" included Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio, state Supreme Court Justices Baynes and Demarest, Patients for LICH, NYSNA, 1199SEIU, community groups and their lawyers, patients, the local press and elected officials.

NYSNA's Jill Furillo and Sen. Dan Squadron with his child

NYSNA's Jill Furillo, supporters of Interfaith Hospital and others thanked Lander and Levin for their support, and also lauded Sen. Daniel Squadron and Assemblywoman Joan Millman.

Supporters unfurled a petition signed by 15,000 local residents.

Monday's contempt hearing is on hold for another 30 days, according to the Brooklyn Eagle, and SUNY is expected to name a new operator in the next couple of days. It goes without saying that SUNY, again contrary to judges' orders, will chose an operator without consideration of the needs of the community and in total secret.

Lawyers for the community say more lawsuits are on the way. Read a letter from attorney Jim WaldenGibson, of Dunn & Crutcher at the Eagle.

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Fireworks Over Brooklyn, NYC Thursday, Dec. 12, Courtesy of Nike

Those fireworks going off over Ellis Island Thursday night around 9 p.m. come to NYC and Brooklyn (and New Jersey) courtesy of Nike, according to the Federal Register.

The fireworks barge is located between Federal Anchorages 20-A and 20-B.

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Red Hook Private School Voted Down; Common Core Flap; Twerking Burglar; and More Brooklyn Briefs

Tonight, Community Board 6 voted down zoning application (BSA) for proposed private school in Red Hook.
— Carlos Menchaca (@cmenchaca) December 12, 2013

More about that here.

- Many Brooklyn parents said they are in favor of the new Common Core standards for schools, even if NYC's execution of their roll-out sucks. [WNYC]

- Or was the above education forum all a set up!!??? [Diane Ravitch's blog]

- Video: Brooklyn burglar twerks for an hour outside apartment first. [NY Magazine]

- Grimm campaign denounces ‘planted’ Fossella comeback report. [Politicker]

- Bad Santa! 12 SantaCon horror stories. [Grub Street]

- NYC finishes in last place in Cuomo's economic development competition. [NY1]

- They still don't know who the totally bogus 'deaf interpreter' standing next to President Obama at Nelson Mandela's memorial was. Security, anyone? [NY Daily News]


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DUMBO's Fire-Powered Christmas Tree Conflagration Tonight -- Thursday, Dec. 12

Photo: BioLite

Everyone likes fire.

Especially Brooklyn.

With this in mind, DUMBO’s official tree lighting (today, Thursday, December 12 from 6 – 7 p.m.) should draw Brooklynites like moths to a flame.

The tree will be illuminated using the electricity generated by a fire-powered high-tech stove designed by DUMBO startup BioLite.

As added incentives, the event will also include Santa, live music, movie projections and more.

McBrooklyn asked BioLite spokesperson Erica Rosen if marshmallows will be part of this scenario.

Her reply: "No Marshmallows, but we'll have Jacques Torres hot chocolate..."

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Why Some NYC Parents Don't Want Their Kids To Get a Flu Shot

Photo: doofus133, Flickr

The NYC Dept. of Health approved earlier today a new rule that all preschool and daycare kids in New York City must get a flu shot within 30 days.

Most health experts agree that flu shots are a pretty good idea, but one group of parents say the DOH has no right to make the shots mandatory.

According to the Brooklyn Eagle, the Autism Action Network objects to the shots "based on what they say is the ineffectiveness of the flu vaccine, and the possibility of side effects, some of them serious."

Unlike other vaccines, about half of the influenza vaccine produced in the U.S. contains mercury (a toxin that can cause brain damage) in the form of thimerosal, a disinfectant.

A child receiving vaccine with thimerosal gets "17 times as much mercury as the maximum limit for a full-grown adult,” the Autism Action Network said.

Doctors say that the risks of the vaccine are less than the risks of the shot. AAN's not buying that, however.

More here.

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Do You Know Where This Brooklyn Scene Is?

The snow and the angle transform this familiar sight.

Do you know where it is? Hint: It's somewhere in Brooklyn.

Photo by MK Metz

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Squadron Not Joining de Blasio Administration? Brooklyn Flea to Flee Park; aand More Brooklyn Briefs

Gas lamp, Brooklyn Heights. MK Metz

- Senator Daniel Squadron says he's going to run for re-election -- not head off to the de Blasio administration. [Crain's]

- Cops say security for Bill de Blasio home in Park Slope would be no problem. [NY Daily News]

- The Brooklyn Flea is abandoning its East River State Park locale amid complaints from locals. [TRD]

- BP Markowitz declares Brooklyn to be the “lesbian capital” of the Northeast. [NY Post]

- Will Green-Wood Cemetery turns part of landmarked greenhouse into visitors center? [Brooklyn Eagle]

- State Ed Commissioner King meets an audience in Crown Heights that likes the  new Common Core learning standards. [NY1]

- Forrest City Ratner lowers value of Atlantic Yards by $250,000 - $350,000. [AYR]

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Christmas Tree Lighting, Party with Giant Gingerbread Man on Tuesday Night at Brooklyn Borough Hall

Marty Markowitz lit his last Christmas Tree at Brooklyn Borough Hall last night. It was a bitter-sweet occasion.

Luckily, he was accompanied by Santa, a giant gingerbread man and a large, flat white snowman at the Borough Hall kids party afterwards.  Good times!

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The Snow Will Really Start Coming Down Around 9 a.m. Tuesday in Brooklyn, NYC

Snow at Brooklyn Borough Hall. Photo: MK Metz

 According to the National Weather Service, Tuesday morning's snow should start getting real around 9 a.m.

NOAA calls for total daytime snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches in Brooklyn.

Some forecasters predict that the southern tip of Brooklyn -- areas like Coney Island -- could get up to 6 inches if the storm stays on track.

NOAA: IMPACTS...SNOW WILL DEVELOP DURING THE MORNING COMMUTE...AND ACCUMULATING SNOW WILL CREATE ICY AND HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS THROUGHOUT THE DAY.



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Brooklyn Hasidic Hate Crime; Did Ratner Lie to Investors? And More Brooklyn Briefs

 - Watchdog says Forest City Ratner misled foreign investors about Atlantic Yards investment. [TRD]

- Police are investigating after a fashion design student was allegedly assaulted by a gang of up to 20 Hasidic men in Brooklyn, leaving him with a broken eye socket and a torn retina. [NBC NY]

- Is Whole Food's Gowanus store really that green? [PMFA]

- The Brooklyn Greenway Initiative updated its plan with a storm-surge-blocking seawall. [Brooklyn Paper]

- NYPD kills the Police Blotter. [Brokelyn]

- Three weeks left to register for property tax break. [Sheepshead Bites]

- City doesn’t need to return child to birth mother’s care, Brooklyn judge rules. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- Gov. Cuomo "has no interest whatsoever in running for president.” [Politico]

- Hospitals start spinning like crazy as DOH starts listing prices. [Crain's]

- Pathetic TSA seizes tiny toy gun from stuffed monkey. Hahahahahahah! Sigh. [Gizmodo]

- Tiny baby squirrel saved, now rides on back of giant dog. Awwwww!. [Viral Nova]

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