SUNY Downstate Bully; Fire Burns Down Church; and More Brooklyn Briefs

Door art in Red Hook. Photo by MK Metz

 - The 5 most polluted sites in Brooklyn. [Brownstoner]

- A bully who works at SUNY Downstate Medical Center blamed his bad behavior on being from Brooklyn, his alleged victim claims. [NY Post]

- Northeast Williamsburg is Brooklyn’s newest fake neighborhood. [Brooklyn Magazine]

- Man gropes, attempts to rape woman in lobby of Borough Park apartment. [PIX11]

- Man, 19, shot twice after fight breaks out near East Flatbush church. [Daily News]

- Three-alarm fire destroys church in Brownsville. [CBSlocal]

- Commenters call bulls**t on money diary citing $1,100/month rent in Brooklyn. [Refinery29]

- Reddit co-founder Ohanian joins ‘philanthropic flashmob’ to fund Brooklyn classrooms. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- Photos from a Brooklyn tattoo shop on a Friday night. [Vice]


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Flowers on Sunny's Pickup Truck, Red Hook

Photo by MK Metz

Flowers and hand-written messages covered the hood of Sunny Balzano's pickup truck, parked outside Sunny's Bar in Red Hook on Saturday.

The neighborhood is in mourning over the death of the iconic barkeep, who died near midnight on Thursday. Old friends, the curious and dozens of musicians packed into the bar over the weekend.


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Cop Caught in Friendly Fire in Bushwick; Transgender Bathroom Access; 36-Hour Party and More Brooklyn Briefs

- A New York City police detective was shot on Tuesday, apparently in a crossfire with a sergeant, as they sought to make a drug arrest in Bushwick. [NY Times]

-  Troubling allegations about Bay Ridge's new top cop. [Bensonhurst Bean]

- New York City sheriffs have seized control of a troubled Bay Ridge hotel — and the hotel may get shut down after the owner failed to pay more than $100,000 in fines. [Daily News]

- De Blasio orders transgender bathroom access in NYC. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- Brooklyn pol Brad Lander wants you to have to pay for your plastic bags at the store by Earth Day. [Patch]

- Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Brooklyn properties see price surge. [Post]

- Police search for missing 13-year-old Brooklyn girl, Dijenay Nelson. [Brooklyn12]

- The Brooklyn Eagle sent a reporter to Cuba, and he brought back photos of amazingly preserved American cars from the 40s and 50s. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- Calling all techno fiends: Unter and the Bunker are throwing a 36-hour party in Brooklyn. [Thump/Vice]

- House Of Cards doesn't know where the Brooklyn Bridge goes. [Gothamist]


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After Cops Tasered & Beat Him, 86-Year-Old Brooklyn Man Cleared of Charges of Making Soup

See video at NBC.

A judge dismissed criminal charges Monday against an 86-year-old Brooklyn man who was Tasered in his kitchen by NYPD cops who were supposed to be looking for a man in his 20s....

John Antoine was making soup and chopping an onion when cops burst into his Bedford Stuyvesant apartment last October and zapped him twice, the Daily News reports.

NBC reports that Antoine was also kicked in the stomach by the cops.

Antoine was charged with “harassment" for holding a knife while making soup, according to Rolling Out.

His lawyer, who thanks God his client didn't have a heart attack, says the city is looking at a $5 million lawsuit.

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Brooklyn Cops Take Goofy Selfies; Hottest Pizza in Williamsburg; and More Brooklyn Briefs

📷 lostartbk: Reminiscing of summer days basking in #Brooklyn vibes. #bts #kindredspirits https://t.co/CvrbmVNZnp

— J.Mandela (@JebariMandela) March 7, 2016

- Blanche is coming to Brooklyn. [New Yorker]

- Brooklyn dad arrested for repeated abuse of toddler. [NY Post]

- The remarkable legacy of David Weinrib, curator of Pratt Institute’s Sculpture Park. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- Brooklyn Folk Festival's concerts, screenings and dances are on the way. [Time Out]

- NYPD cops take suspect's phone and take a bunch of selfies and goofy videos. [Daily News]

- Semilla's terrific one-of-a-kind pizza is the hottest thing in Williamsburg right now. [Bloomberg]

- Beloved Brooklyn photographer dies at 96; worked for the Brooklyn Eagle until he was 90 years old. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- Nancy Reagan dies at 94. [NBC]

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Comedy Festival in Brooklyn Creating Stir By Charging White, Straight Males More

The @CinderBlockFest is charging straight white dudes more & (surprise!) people got upset https://t.co/VGeFQDYtv9 pic.twitter.com/GVUvoU8zXC

— Brokelyn (@Brokelyn) March 4, 2016

The Cinder Block Comedy Festival is charging women, people of color, and members of the LGBTQIA community (and now people with disabilities) 77 percent of what it is charging white, straight males to submit material for the festival. (March 15 deadline.)

The discount is meant to acknowledge pay disparities between the discounted groups and white, straight males, the festival's founders say. (The price disparity was reported in Brokelyn.)

This price difference is causing a bit of controversy. Twitter and Facebook commenters have cried discrimination. One woman wrote, "All male comedians should boycott this..."

Festival director Coree Spencer told the Daily Dot she thought up the submission pricing to send an inviting message to minority comedians who have experienced being a “token” comic.

On their website, the group says, "We would like to publicly state that we stand by our decision and our commitment to creating a diverse comedy festival, showcasing talent from all backgrounds. The wage-gap priced early bird deadline will be extended until March 31st.

The festival starts in Williamsburg on Sept. 16.


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Shot in the Butt in Crown Heights; Brooklyn Perv; Brooklyn Influencers and More

Spring Crocus explosion at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. pic.twitter.com/fzHYA7Yi6B

— Rob Jett (@thecitybirder) March 2, 2016

- A man was shot in the butt across the street from two Crown Heights school yesterday afternoon. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- Borough Board approves sale of Brooklyn Heights Library, but advocacy group files a federal complaint. [Brooklyn Eagle]

- Women-owned businesses are gaining ground in Brooklyn, with a 39 percent increase in the borough over a five-year period. [DNA info]

- An upstate father's horrible discovery has led to the discovery of Brooklyn man who police say preyed on children. [13Wham]

- On May 14, hundreds of cyclists will ride en masse along 7.5 miles of the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway at the inaugural Brooklyn Bike Rave, a glowtastic night ride with lights and music. [Brownstoner]

- Interesting list: 100 Most Influential People in Brooklyn Culture. [Brooklyn Magazine]

- No need for Con-Ed: Brooklyn-based LO3 Energy is running a platform that lets anyone sell energy to their neighbors using blockchain technology. [BizJournals]

- A little-known Newtown Creek access point takes shape. [Greenpointers]

- Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton weigh in on important Brooklyn issues. [Brokelyn]

- Shimmy ‘Til Her Garters Break’: Drag Queen Visury Fox heats up Bay Ridge. [Bensonhurst Bean]

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Eileen C. Dugan Memorial 5K to be Held in Brooklyn Bridge Park on April 16

Courtesy of Brooklyn Bridge Park

  The 18th Eileen C. Dugan Memorial 5K will be held on April 16 at 9 a.m.

 Nearly 400 runners participated in 2015.

This 3.1-mile race remembers Eileen Dugan, a New York State Assemblymember who represented the local 52nd AD (Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Red Hook, Sunset Park, and Bay Ridge) from 1980 to 1996.

The race was announced by the The Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy, St. Francis College, and Brooklyn Bridge Park (BBP).

"Her early leadership and advocacy to create a public park on the Brooklyn waterfront were instrumental in making Brooklyn Bridge Park a reality," says BBP.

 In 1996, at the age of 51, Assemblywoman Dugan passed away from breast cancer..

"The Eileen C. Dugan run has really taken off since Brooklyn Bridge Park began hosting the event," said her brother, St. Francis College President Brendan J. Dugan. "It's the perfect fit, an example of everything my sister worked for and dreamed could be possible on the Brooklyn waterfront."

For its first 13 years, the Eileen C. Dugan Run was a tradition on the streets of Carroll Gardens and Cobble Hill. This year's course will begin and end at Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park. The run is limited to the first 500 entrants. All proceeds from the run will support the Conservancy's free cultural, recreational, and educational events.

18th Eileen C. Dugan Memorial 5K
When: Saturday, April 16, 2016 at 9:00 am
Where: Pier 6
Register: Purchase tickets at brooklynbridgepark.org/events/eileen-c-dugan-memorial-5k
$40 registration from March 1 – April 15; $50 registration on Race Day (if available)
Space is limited; register in advance


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Brooklyn Panel Tonight: What Does It Take to Create Great Virtual Reality Experiences?

Courtesy of Made In NY Media Center

 During this panel in DUMBO, the Made in NY Media Center, in partnership with Virtualize (a VR content agency based in NY), will bring together the creators of four outstanding VR (Virtual Reality) pieces from Sundance:

Giant (Milica Zec & Winslow Porter)
Waves (Ben Dickinson)
Perspective 2: The Misdemeanor (Rose Troche)
Kiya (Jamie Pallot/Emblematic Group)

Panelists will talk about the process of creating compelling VR work: what inspired the experience, what they learned works best in the medium, the biggest challenges they faced, what they would have done differently.

6:30pm – 7:00pm – happy hour
7:00pm – 8:30pm – panel
8:30pm – reception

$25
Made in NY Media Center by IFP

30 John Street

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Brooklyn Poetry Slam Tonight

Jessica Sucher

An intergenerational poetry slam and open mic is taking place at 7 p.m. tonight at BRIC House in Downtown Brooklyn.

The slam features Brooklyn-based poets who respond to city culture, national issues, and the exhibitions on-view at BRIC House. Hosted by Mahogany L. Browne, with music by DJ Jive Poetic.

BRIC House is located at 647 Fulton Street. (718) 683-5600

Directions:
2/3/4/5 to Nevins St | B/Q/R to DeKalb St | G to Fulton St


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