Melissa Mark-Viverito Appears This Close to Being NYC's Next City Council Speaker

“I am humbled to have the support and confidence that my colleagues have placed in me," @MMViverito says in statement.
— David W. Chen (@davidwchen) December 19, 2013

A progressive Latina, @MMViverito will reshape city divided by inequality into NYC built for everyone, not just wealthy and well-connected.
— WorkingFamiliesParty (@WorkingFamilies) December 19, 2013

Frank Seddio, Chair of the Kings County Democratic Committee declared his support for East Harlem Councilwoman Melissa Mark-Viverito for City Council Speaker late Wednesday. He said in a statement:

"I am pleased to announce Brooklyn is supporting Melissa Mark-Viverito for Council Speaker. She shares the progressive values of my members and is the right leader for New York. We are united in her candidacy and believe with our support Melissa now has the majority of the votes needed to elevate her to speaker."

Bill de Blasio is said to have made his preference for Ms. Mark-Viverito known to Council members.

Politicker reports that 30 Council members officially threw their support behind her as well.

Twitter is buzzing:

Please to announce that I am pulling out and supporting my colleague @MMViverito for speaker.
— Jumaane D. Williams (@JumaaneWilliams) December 18, 2013

Well, anything could still happen I guess. But it looks like @MMViverito can probably start measuring the drapes. Congrats to her!
— George Mcaneny (@NYCSPEAKERRACE) December 19, 2013

So proud of my friend & @NYCProgressives co-chair @MMViverito. She is going to be a fantastic Speaker of @NYCCouncil http://t.co/svpq1IJVsh
— Brad Lander (@bradlander) December 19, 2013

UPDATE: Comment published on Politicker: “'Frank Seddio finally grew a pair of balls,' said the source familiar with the deal, which, if successful, will likely net the borough many prime committee chairmanships and other perks. 'He did what was best for Brooklyn.'”

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Empire Stores Flap; Weird Brooklyn Businessman Story; and More Brooklyn Briefs

- Critics throw stones at Empire Stores glass rooftop plans. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- 8 people suffer minor injuries in 30-car pileup in Brooklyn. [Business Insider]

- It gets weirder: Sean Penn helps spirit away Brooklyn businessman wanted in Bolivia. [Yahoo News]

- Brooklyn teens critically injured when pot experiment blows up in garage. [NY Daily News]

- "Uber for laundry" startup raises $2 million in Brooklyn. [TechCrunch]

-  Fascinating photos of 1950s teen gang in Brooklyn. [DailyMail]


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Lighten Up, Brooklyn Heights! (At the Promenade Christmas Tree Ceremony Wednesday)

Photo: zaimoku woodpile, flickr

Come to the 64th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony by the Brooklyn Heights Garden Club on the Promenade.

Here are the details:

On Wednesday, December 18, at 5:30pm, the Brooklyn Heights Garden Club brings the holiday spirit to Brooklyn Heights with their beloved annual tree lighting ceremony.

Santa Claus will join the festivities, handing out candy canes while carolers from the Grace & Spiritus Chorale sing Christmas carols.

The lighting ceremony will be held at the Esplanade at the foot of Montague Street.

Caroling along Montague Street will commence following the ceremony.


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LICH Development on Hold: Are SUNY Trustees Starting to Catch On to Their Big Fat Brooklyn Problem?

Dr. John Williams

In a vote of no confidence in SUNY Downstate's President Dr. John "Skip" Williams, the SUNY board of trustees on Tuesday voted to shelve a resolution that would have allowed Downstate to start negotiating with a mega-developer who wants to turn LICH into condos and an urgent care center.

Developer Fortis Property Group, one of drivers behind the development of the Williamsburg waterfront, told SUNY it would lease most of the main hospital building to ProHealth, which specializes in primary care. The other roughly 20 LICH buildings would be turned into condominiums.

It has taken this long for SUNY trustees (all of whom face contempt charges on Jan. 21) to catch on that there is something VERY WRONG at SUNY Downstate, and that they may be left holding the bag after Skip is long gone.

The full story is here.

@BrooklynBugle @BrooklynCB6 @BilldeBlasio @DownstateLICH #Bklyn thinks #SUNY shd finally put out a real RFP for a HOSPITAL #saveLICH
— js (@oceanblueskies) December 18, 2013

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Today SUNY Will Pretend Only One Developer Had Viable Plan for LICH RFP

The farce that is SUNY Downstate's smoke-filled room deal to sell of LICH's Cobble Hill real estate to a developer continues today at the SUNY board meeting in Manhattan.

There, the same folks who will be dragged kicking and screaming into Justice Baynes' courtroom on Jan. 21 to face contempt charges will vote to sell the 150-year-old hospital for parts and maybe $400 million, depending how you count it.

Two different takes on the same event:

SUNY expected to vote on sale of LICH to developer at Tuesday meeting Brooklyn Eagle

Redevelopment Plan Is Considered for Long Island College Hospital New York Times


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Ten Things to Know About Gowanus Whole Foods Opening in Brooklyn Tuesday

Whole Foods is opening in Gowanus Tuesday morning (tomorrow!) and here are 10 things you need to know before you go:

- The gargantuan new market is located at 214 3rd street in Gowanus at the corner of 3rd Avenue, not far from the R train (get out at Union St/4th Ave). The G and F trains aren't too far, either.

- A 'simple bread breaking' ceremony takes place at 8:30 am, with doors opening at 9 am. The first 250 people in attendance will receive a free tote bag.

- Deep discounts all day Tuesday, including 6 - 8' Fraser fir holiday Christmas trees 50% OFF at $24.99/each, regularly $49.99/each.

- You can come in and shop, but why carry groceries home? Let your cashier know you'd like home delivery at check out.

- You can order your groceries online tonight at the e-store and pick them up after they open tomorrow. http://wholefoodsmarket.com/online-ordering

- The Brooklyn store carries products from many local small vendors: Brooklyn-made ice cream, yogurt, pies, rice & miso, cupcakes, mayo, coffee, scones, granola, etc.

- YUJI Ramen!

- The Roof, a rooftop taproom & bar, will carry 16 beers on tap, plus canned and bottled brews and local Brooklyn food.

- You'll be able to drink & draw with Gowanus Open Studios/Arts Gowanus up there, too.

- If you are looking for less-expensive items, you can take a 'value tour.'


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Weird Private School Accusation; Vito Lopez Did Many Good Things; Streisand's 'Back To Brooklyn' Gold; and More Brooklyn Briefs

- A Brooklyn couple claims the head of a the private Waldorf School in Brooklyn holds séances with problem kids so she can save their souls. [NY Post]

- The head of a Brooklyn nonprofit allegedly used a $20,000 state grant to buy an iPad and laptops for her family’s use. [NY Daily News]

- What do they say about Vito Lopez? "He helped thousands and thousands of poor, indigent people and low-income people get affordable housing." [Brooklyn Bureau]

- Video: Charlie Rangel, Letitia James and John Catsimatidis share a dance. [Gothamist]

- Remember how cold it was Sunday? These people went swimming in the ocean at Coney Island. [NY Daily News]

- Affordable housing added at massive North Brooklyn site. [TRD]

- East River Ferry service extended until 2019. [Crain's]

- Barbra Streisand's "Back To Brooklyn" concert DVD has reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top DVD Music Videos chart. [Broadway World]

- Some good Peter O'Toole video clips. [Gawker]



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Food Really Hit the Spot at Brooklyn Flea / Smorgasburg This Weekend

Deserts from s'more. Photos by MK Metz

McBrooklyn swung by the Brooklyn Flea and Smorgasburg's giant new indoor location in Williamsburg (80 North 5th St. at Wythe Ave.) this weekend and actually had a good time holiday shopping.

First off, the giant indoor space is only a couple of blocks from the East River Ferry so it's easy to get to if you live near a ferry stop. Second, though it was wet and cold outside, it was warm and comfortable inside. Third, many of the great vendors from last year (at the Holiday Market) have returned, but also some new, interesting crafts vendors as well.

Fourth, the food was plentiful and delicious! (And there are benches to sit on while eating, if you want.)

Paella from HamOn

Food vendors included: HamOn, which sold Iberian ham sandwiches and paella (photo above); and Cutie Pies (cute little pies).

CheesePops

BeeHive Oven served warm bite-site sandwiches on biscuits (yum!); CheesePops stacked cheese plates on skewers.

Jack's ChedBred sold killer corn bread with cheese and other flavorings; Red Hook Lobster Pound had lobster rolls, etc. etc. Most of the edibles were located in the food section, but a few vendors were apart from the herd (oysters, coffee).

Smorgasburg says they will operate year-round at this location. The Brooklyn Flea/Smorg combo runs every Saturday and Sunday through March 2014.

Hours: 10am-7pm through Dec. 21/22, and 10am-6pm for the rest of the winter.



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Man Reported Down Elevator Shaft in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

From the scanner: A report of a man down an elevator shaft in a building on Dunham Place near Broadway in Brooklyn was called in at roughly 1:10 a.m. Monday morning.

The building is a four-story elevator rental with six units near the Williamsburg Bridge. Real estate websites say "artists in residence."

The NYPD has not yet confirmed; no further details.


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SantaCon 2013 Visits Brooklyn Heights, Weirds Out Park Plaza Diner

Photos by MK Metz

After hitting dozens of bars in the East Village, the drunken Santas, gingerbread cookies and reindeer of SantaCon 2013 streamed into Cadman Plaza Park in Downtown Brooklyn today, where a DJ blasting holiday music was set up in a tent.

Other than some sloppiness, bad dancing and mock fighting, the crowds were fairly well behaved and played "reindeer games.". The 84th Precinct had a half a dozen officers stationed around the park, but didn't have to do much other than laugh at the participants.

There's a Rudolph dance-off & reindeer games at Camden Plaza Park East in Brooklyn! #NYCSantacon http://t.co/odeVhLEvPT
— santacon (@santacon) December 14, 2013

Hundreds of Santas quickly overwhelmed the Park Plaza diner, where those in charge didn't seem to understand the exact nature of the event and kept offering consumables other than beer. Others streamed towards Montague Street and DUMBO.

This Santa was strikingly dedicated to holiday hair colors.

This year's event started at Tompkins Square Park in the East Village, and wound up with afterparties on Atlantic Ave. near Classon Ave.

Friendly reminder: Don't fuck with KIDS, COPS, BAR STAFF or NYC. Dont Be a Jerk! It's #TheSantaCode. #NYCSantacon
— santacon (@santacon) December 14, 2013

SantaCon 2012
SantaCon 2011
About SantaCon 2010

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