Beep's Big Head

INSIDE: GET THE RIGHT RESULTS WITH OUR CLASSIFIEDS SECTION Yo u r World — Yo u r News BrooklynPaper.com • (718) 260–2500 • Brooklyn, NY • ©2016 Serving Brownstone Brooklyn, Williamsburg & Greenpoint AWP/16 pages • Vol. 39, No. 34 • August 19–25, 2016 • FREE BEEP’S BIG HEAD Adams’ banner makes him the face of Boro Hall By Lauren Gill Hall steps. Two of the placards feature borough presidents using taxpayer dol- Brooklyn Paper large pictures of Adams and Reyna — lars to plaster their mugs on signs. These banners are raising some red who holds an unelected position — with Several residents said they did see flags. their names and titles underneath. The the banner as a celebration of diver- Borough President Adams is using center banner reads, “Welcome to Brook- sity, though one thought the Beep could taxpayer money to finance huge ban- lyn. Diversity is our strength in One have found a cheaper way to get his ners bearing his and Deputy Borough Brooklyn,” surrounded by a border of point across. President Diana Reyna’s faces on Bor- different faces. “I guess that’s government for you, I ough Hall in what they say is an ef- The Beep raised the banners several think they could’ve done it for less,” said fort to highlight the diverse population weeks ago ahead of his International East New Yorker Dayne Banks. “I have of Kings County, but critics say seems Day of Friendship celebration, and has no problem that they’re promoting diver- more like self-promotion than a public kept them up to alert passersby to the sity, but they should’ve had some school service announcement. rainbow of races in the borough — in- kids make up a sign or something.” “They are good public servants, but cluding those of its leaders, a Borough But another Brooklynite said she there is a line that’s not to be crossed Hall spokesman said. thought it was worth dipping into pub- when you take advantage of taxpayer “They set the tone loudly and clearly lic coffers to let residents know who dollars when participating in something for the tone of diversity, represented by their politicians are and where they that can be seen as self promotional,” the first African-American and Latina come from. said Dick Dadey, the director of good- to serve borough-wide,” said communi- “I live in Brooklyn and I didn’t know government group Citizens Union. “It’s cations director Stefan Ringel. that these people were our borough pres- questionably inappropriate.” Council voted in 2007 to ban mem- idents,” said Crown Heights resident Community News Group / Lauren Gill Adams spent $1,375 from his discre- bers from using city funds for advertise- Andrea Rice. “Everything comes out These banners promoting Borough President Adams and deputy Borough President Diana Reyna — and tionary fund to pay for the three giant ments that feature their photo, likeness, of taxpayer dollars and I think the mes- diversity — are hanging on Borough Hall. signs, which hang above the Borough or voice, but there are no rules against sage of diversity is important.” Take a carnival cruise! West Indian parade recruiting hipsters, other immigrants By Alexandra Simon residents from predominantly every day, and generally there welcome — they don’t have to Brooklyn Paper black but rapidly gentrifying Ca- are more non-West Indians eat- separate themselves right here in Join the West Indian American ribbean neighborhoods such as ing roti than West Indians,” said Brooklyn,” said Howard. “There’s Day Parade before it gets cool. Crown Heights and East Flatbush Howard, who isn’t West Indian an incredible amount of energy The organizers of the epic Ca- to shake a tail feather side-by- either, but got involved in orga- in those communities, and a huge ribbean carnival are trekking side with their neighbors, rather nizing the festival while work- population of young people — and around the borough to recruit lo- than just watching from the side- ing with Rep. Shirley Chisholm. carnival is young people.” cal hipsters and other newcom- lines. Or, if they’d prefer, there “Since we are the largest parade And the carnival’s big cheese ers for the annual Labor Day pro- are plenty of volunteer opportu- in New York City, we must be in- says he’s not worried about all the cession down Eastern Parkway, nities, too, he said. clusive of everyone — and we outsiders changing the parade — in what they say is an attempt to The bacchanal bigwig has been can teach them how to dance and after all, he himself hails from keep up with Brooklyn’s chang- handing out fliers to local busi- eat roti.” North Carolina. ing demographics. nesses along Franklin Avenue in The master of mas is also look- “I can skin a roti faster than “We want to make sure that all Crown Heights, where he says he ing to find potential parade-go- someone from any of those is- the newcomers and people that often sees the new kids on the ers in the more distant Brooklyn lands,” he said. “You don’t have recently moved to Brooklyn have block enjoying Carribbean food neighborhoods of Williamsburg, to be from the islands to jump the entire flavor of the Caribbean and music, and he wants them to Greenpoint, Fort Greene and Clin- into a roti.” over the Labor Day weekend,” said have a presence in the parade — ton Hill, as well other immigrant West Indian American Day William Howard, president of pa- as well as those who don’t yet communities around the borough, Parade (Eastern Parkway be- rade organizing body the West know their cou-cou from their including the Eastern European tween Utica Avenue and Grand Indian American Day Carnival callaloo. cohort in Brighton Beach. Army Plaza in Crown Heights, Photo by Paul Martinka Association. “I pass a restaurant near Ster- “If they’re foreign-born we www.wiadcacarnival.org). Sept. The organizer of the West Indian American Day Carnival wants you — to dress like this and Howard says he wants new ling Street and Nostrand Avenue want them to know that they’re 5, 11 am–6 pm. Free. dance down Eastern Parkway! Heading to their battle stations Crown Heights wars over controversial developer’s armory apts By Dennis Lynch isn’t enough so-called “affordable” Brooklyn Paper housing going in, according to the They want to wipe the Slate committee’s chairman. clean! “There are a lot of people that Mayor DeBlasio must nix a plan feel the President Street side isn’t to hand over the Bedford–Union in the best interest of the commu- Armory in Crown Heights to devel- nity — the condos take away space oper Slate Property Group, which from the community, simple as was caught in a scandal surround- that,” Warren Berke said. “I think ing the sale and redevelopment of a the community feeling is a lot like Manhattan nursing home for peo- the general feeling around Brook- ple with AIDS into luxury con- lyn — that there’s not enough af- dos, say local activists who rallied fordable housing.” in front of the building last week. Half of the complex’s 330 apart- Thor Equities Thor The real estate firm “duped” Hiz- ments are below market-rate, but Red Hook won’t be getting a BJ’s, but it will be getting this sprawling office complex. zoner on that deal and now res- only 66 of them will be available idents can’t trust it to head the to people making less than the massive project in their commu- citywide area median income — nity, one leader said. $90,600 for a family of four and “If you do this to the mayor, $63,500 for an individual. The rest No BJ’s for Hookers what will they do to us? We know will be available to those who make this wasn’t done in good faith,” 110 percent of the citywide figure, said Donna Mossman, co-founder Photo by Paul Martinka or around $100,000 annually. Sitt building waterfront ofﬁ ce complex instead of tenant association the Crown Crown Heights Tenant Union co-founder Donna Mossman The median household in- By Lauren Gill for two four-story office and retail for office space in the borough, Heights Tenant Union which pro- tested alongside housing activist thinks the Bedford–Union Armory should become a com- come in Crown Heights is be- Brooklyn Paper buildings at the site of the former according to Greenwald. munity center instead of a residential development. tween $35,000 and $40,000 annu- Revere Sugar refinery at Beard “There seems to be a need group New York Communities Well that sucks. Or does it? for Change, formerly known as ally, according to the latest census The developer of a Red Hook and Richard streets, which it has for more office space for more data, though that includes house- dubbed Red Hoek Point — a title technology companies,” he said. Acorn. The plan came after two years of taking a hard look at the situation,” waterfront property once slated City investigators recently holds of all sizes. inspired by the neighborhood’s old “We’re looking at what these com- negotiations with local elected of- said rep Austin Finan. to house a hotly anticipated out- found the developer colluded with Mossman said she’d rather the Dutch name of Roode Hoek — panies want and building some- ficials, the community board, and Community Board 9 has assem- post of BJ’s Wholesale Club says the former owner of Manhattan’s local leaders, many of whom ended bled a committee to gauge local entire complex be turned into a and will be designed by the same thing that will fit their needs.” the dream of buying bulk toilet Rivington House hospice to hide up supporting the project.

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