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*/4*%&1"(&40'$0610/4504"7&:06$"4) /PSBI SEE PAGE 5 Yo u r NeighborhoodYo u r Neighborhood — Yo u r News — Yo® u r News® BrooklynPaper.com s (718) 260–2500 s Brooklyn, NY s ©2010 DOWNTOWN, PARK SLOPE & BAY RIDGE EDITIONS AWP/12 pages s Vol. 33, No. 19s May 7–May 13, 2010 s FREE 7FOEPSTSFUVSO Big weekend for Bay Street Latino food stalls By Andy Campbell The Brooklyn Paper The Red Hook Vendors are back — and a hero has emerged: El Olomega! The Latino food vendors returned this weekend to Red Hook Park, and people from as far as Manhattan swarmed the sidewalks at Clinton and Bay streets to get the first taste of their favorite tacos, tamales, ceviche, papusas, huaraches and jugos. But on opening day, the Salvadoran El Olomega — serving a soft papusa made famous by Carlos Ayala way Photo by Stefano Giovannini back in 1988 — had obviously won over the hearts (and Prospect Park West features pedestrians, bikers, stroller pushers and speeding cars and trucks. stomachs) of customers. The city says a bike lane, protected by a row of parked cars, is the answer. “These are definitely fresher,” said taste-tester Anna Mcallister, who said that some of the com- petition was overpriced and contained pre- made ingredients. “For $5, they’re totally City: Bike lane will make reasonable. [El Olomega] has done a great job with these.” But as good as it is, El Olomega has competition among the trucks lining Bay Street. Park Slope streets safer Nearby, the Country Boys truck served up some hot, tasty huaraches ($6). And By Andy Campbell ard for pedestrians not accustomed to Victor and Ana’s truck was back with The Brooklyn Paper #*,&-"/& looking out for cyclists heading in two queso-covered grilled corn. And another City officials shot back at oppo- directions. crowd favorite is the unnamed ceviche nents of the controversial Prospect &%*503*"- But the city defended its decision, truck. Go for the shrimp ($5). Park West bike lane last Thursday, SEE PAGE 10 saying that the lane would make But, really, wait on line for El Olom- saying that the two-way protected Prospect Park West safer — for ev- ega. It’s worth it. bike path is all about making Park Slope’s notorious eryone. “Usually, you choose by whichever speedway safer. “We prioritize safety above other types of consid- truck has the longest line,” said vendor’s The bike lane, which would run from Grand Army erations,” said Josh Benson, director of the Depart- row regular Dean Meelarp. “I’ve been here Plaza to Bartel Pritchard Square and require the re- ment of Transportation’s bicycle program. “Speed- plenty, and [El Olomega] has the best pa- moval of one lane of southbound car traffic, has en- ing is a problem on that stretch, and we’re going to pusa and just happens to have the longest raged some residents because it would cause the re- keep people safe.” line too.” moval of 22 parking spaces, result in more congestion The current bike lane inside Prospect Park is one- Red Hook Vendors at Red Hook Park (Bay from double-parked cars and create a potential haz- See BIKES on page 12 and Clinton streets in Red Hook). Photo by Stefano Giovannini $JUZUP£4UPQUIF$IPQ¤PWFS#SPPLMZO)FJHIUT By Andy Campbell continue. several Manhattan sightseeing com- complained that 311 operators s.OSIGHTSEEINGOVER"ROOKLYN The Brooklyn Paper Also, helicopters will no lon- panies, which take off from a heli- were not properly logging noise at all, but the Brooklyn Bridge it- The constant rumble of helicop- ger be allowed to hover below pad near the South Street Seaport in complaints, resulting in difficulty self was spared the ban. ter noise over Brooklyn Heights 1,500 feet. rapid succession during the day. proving that helicopters were a nui- s.EWTOURROUTES0ILOTSWILLBE '-"4)#"$, and DUMBO is over, thanks to a “This solution was a quick effort The agency could not be reached sance. forced to take off and land toward new city ban on sightseeing flights to deal with the problem,” said state in time for our whirring online But the deal calls for a stream- the south of the heliport, maximiz- $)011&3 Sen. Daniel Squadron (D–Brook- deadline. lined 311 system to allow com- ing their distance from Brooklyn over the entire borough. lyn Heights), who spearheaded the The whole hubbub began after a plaints to be properly tracked. If Bridge Park. The move to bar tourist helicop- 45011&34 “Stop the chop” campaign after his heliport on the West Side of Man- the tourism agencies screw up, s.OMOREGASPAINS!BOUT Heights battles helicopters ters comes after months of com- office was bombarded with com- hattan was closed to tourism flights they’ll be fined and may lose their percent of flights from the Lower By Andy Campbell that the choppers could The Brooklyn Paper lead to brain damage, the plaints from Heights residents Call it a hangar hang- city’s Economic Develop- plaints. “It is absolutely a good faith last year, sending more traffic to licenses. Manhattan pad were simply for re- over! ment Corporation is “look- about chopper noise stemming Brooklyn Heights resi- ing at options” to put a stop dents and nearby park-go- to the chop. effort, but it’s now up to elected of- the downtown location on the East In summary, the deal also calls fueling purposes. Now, fuel will The complaints — from Burchenal. “The helicop- The EDC blames several ers are covering their ears Heights residents as well as ters zoom right overhead factors. from a much-used Lower Man- and screaming at the recent Brooklyn Bridge Park-go- like a scene out of ‘Apoc- ficials to keep a close watch on the River. And the opening of Brook- for: be available at the heliport. upswing of tourist helicop- For one, April is the sec- ers at Pier 1 — are piling alypse Now.’ ” ond-busiest month, behind ters f lying over the area — up faster than the injury re- Some blame the weather, hattan helipad. all coming from the Down- December, for helicopter progress and make sure the plan lyn Bridge Park’s Pier 1 earlier this s.OSHORTTOURS!BOUTPER- s.OMOREGASPAINS!BOUT ports coming from the play- some blame the pilot-allur- tours (only $800 a pop!). Last town Manhattan Heliport ground in the new park. ing opening of Pier 1, and April, nearly 3,000 tour he- The new flight plan could elimi- on that other island. “You can often see four some blame the phasing-out has the desired effect.” year prompted renewed calls for cent of sightseeing flights are short, percent of flights from the Lower The noise insanity has or five helicopters in the of the W. 30th Street Heli- licopters landed in the city caused a maelstrom of air, and another five or port in Manhattan, which alone — and now the only he- nate up to 30 percent of those tour- The Economic Development peace and quiet. four- to eight-minute flights and are Manhattan pad were simply for re- public outcry, and just a six idling on the [Man- sent all the chopper traffic lipad left is taking the brunt few days after our resi- hattan] pad,” said Brook- to the downtown location on of those landings. ism flights — though news and Corporation oversees helicopter Amid the controversy over noise, “major contributors” to the noise. fueling purposes. Now, fuel will dent noise expert found lyn Heights resident Drew the East River. See CHOPPER on page 1 emergency flights will, of course, traffic and negotiated the deal with one problem emerged: Residents They’ve been eliminated. be available at the heliport. Walmart makes case for fair wages Retailer says salaries are the same as other department stores By Stephen Witt center at Jamaica Bay, but noted that central Brooklyn location near Brook- The Brooklyn Paper such chain stores as Target, Walgreens, lyn College at the Flatbush–Nostrand If Target can do it, so can we. Best Buy, Home Depot and Lowe’s avenues junction, and the Gateway That is the message Walmart sent are all non-union. Shopping Center at Jamaica Bay off Target, the country’s fifth-largest Shore Parkway at Erksine Street. this week in its latest salvo against offer employees, we’re very compet- unionized labor as part of its advance- retail store in sales, is very similar to Workers at these Target stores said ment into Brooklyn. itive to both full-time and part-time top retailer Walmart in its merchan- that they enjoy their work, despite “A majority of national retail is workers.” dise. It has three stores spread stra- starting salaries for part-timers of non-union,” said Steven Restivo, Wal- Restivo declined comment on ru- tegically across the borough. $8.50 an hour. mart’s director of community affairs. mors that Walmart would lease space This includes a location at the At- “There are a lot of opportunities “When you look at retail and what we at the planned Gateway II shopping lantic Terminal Mall in Fort Greene, a See WALMART on page 2 Photo by Bess by Photo Adler Cops arrested a purse-snatcher in a cool sting operation at the Trader Joe’s on Court Street in Cobble Hill, the scene of many $IJDLFOIFBET #MPPE 5SBTI 4PXIBU prior thefts. EPA gives Prospect Park cleanliness award despite rampant debris By Stephen Brown $01445*/(+0& The Brooklyn Paper Who cares about two months of en- Meadows of trail-dumping, chicken beheadings, Bandit nabbed at trendy store blood-letting and furniture abandon- ment in the Prospect Park lake — the By Gersh Kuntzman peruse the myriad offerings.

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