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BY NATALIE O’NEILL Windsor Terrace residents have a less-than welcoming mes- MINDS THE GAP sage for their neighborhood’s new- est business: feed us or leave! More than 100 protesters ral- lied outside the former home of the Says ‘accessible’ community’s only grocery store on Wednesday to demand that the new tenant — the drugstore chain stations aren’t Walgreens — offer fresh food or back out of the deal. so accessible “You’re not welcome here — and we’re not taking this laying BY ALFRED NG down,” said protest organizer Michele Kaplan often gets Steve Levine. stuck on the train, but unlike Neighbors last month began many commuters, it’s not delays fi ghting the nation’s largest phar- or track work that slow her down macy chain after it announced its — it’s the space between the sub- plans to replace the Key Foods at way car and the platform. Prospect and 11th avenues, say- Kaplan, who uses a wheelchair, ing it would create a food desert says too-steep gaps at certain sta- that would force families and old tions purported to be “ accessible ” people to trek more than a mile to to disabled passengers — including Park Slope for sustenance. many in Downtown — are actually More than 3,000 people — impassible, leaving her trapped roughly one third of all house- part-way over the tracks if she isn’t holds in the neighborhood — have careful. since signed petitions pledging to “It is an incredibly scary ex- boycott the pharmacy, according perience, and I am pretty fearless the movement’s organizers. in my chair,” said Kaplan, who Protesters urged the chain to documents her struggles commut- open a full-service food market or ing at her blog MindTheGapMTA. give up the space to a grocer that tumblr.com. will, waving signs reading “Green Kaplan is one of 60,000 handi- beans, not Walgreens!” and “If capped straphangers who she you build it, we won’t come!” in claims are constantly inconve- front of the now-graffi tied-cov- LEFT AT THE STATION: Michele Kaplan says she struggles to get her wheelchair over the large gap between trains and nienced by the inconsistent spac- Continued on Page 16 platforms — even at so-called “accessible” stations. Photo by Elizabeth Graham Continued on Page 16
A CNG Publication • Vol. 32 No. 31 UPDATED EVERY DAY AT BROOKLYNDAILY.COM 2 DT COURIER LIFE, AUG. 3-8, 2012 Sports ...... Sports ...... Letters HOW TO REACH US Police Blotter ...... Classified E-Mail: E-Mail: Classified Fax: Classified Phone: Classified AdFax:Display AdE-Mail: Display AdPhone: Display News E-Mail: News Fax: Phone: General Mail: INSIDE NNN%9IFFBCPE;8@CP%:FD I couples alike, installations, such as art and for singles activities inventive on phed into an events company mor- It quickly people. young thatartistic put for creative, service dating online an & Scorpio, originally by Gemini hosted extravaganzas performance isCircus one of social many the Lost the twist,” asteampunk with behave.” sitand to notrequired is ence “There are no assigned seats. The audi- & Scorpio.is a of co-founder Gemini show,” said curator Fuchs, Larisa who freaks. circus inner their off showing and too, makeup, and costumes wearing they’re breaths, their holding sitting just isn’t audience the where specialties and of spectacles anight for Circus Lost &Scorpio’s Gemini join can jugglers and selves, contortionists, walkers, stilt OUTSIDERS ON THE INSIDE ON THE OUTSIDERS Billed as “circus and dark cabaret cabaret dark and “circus as Billed It’s aparty. is nota Circus “Lost [email protected] (718) 260-2549 260-2555(718) (718) 260-2579 [email protected] (718) 260-8302 [email protected] (718) 260-2592 (718) 260-2500 11201 N.Y. 10th Floor, Brooklyn, North Center 1 Metrotech Inc., Publications, Courier Life gling skills get rusty. get skills gling jug- those let to apity be t would Circus welcomes weirdos and wild to join in on the acts onthe in join to wild and weirdos welcomes Circus M%G%F=8;M Community Newspaper Group / Christina Santucci DT 3 AUG. 3-8, 2012, COURIER LIFE Photo by Stefano Giovannini c can obscure cyclists’ Making it 15 blocks until neighbor- this in “People A Department of Trans- lems, cyclist say. The north-lems, cyclist say. bound stops route right before a chaotic section of parked where roadway the heavy and busses school traffi vision. the lane restarts isa chal- lenge mainly becauseof the the in drivers of attitude area, bikers say. respecthood don’t the bike lanes,” said cyclist Mateo Bijoux. “take will agency spokeswoman portation her said at”a look the scary seven lanes and see if any changes can be made. Alfred — with Ng and Ben Lockhart VOTE ONLINE AT Cyclists in Brooklyn say they must navigate danger- navigate must they say Brooklyn in Cyclists www.BrooklynDaily.com/ScariestBikeLane JAY STREET JAY FIFTH AVENUE FIFTH said Sonies. bad,” “It’s The borough’s longestThe borough’s The lane-less area cre- dor — and the extra squeeze contributed have may to including crashes, several one that landed a tourist in busted a with hospital the to according year, last chin . Post the York New to have “Sometimes you offjust hop and walk.” avenue was once a safeavenue street cyclists, for bik- but ers that say all changed after the city removed a 15-block portion of the lane between Flushing and Di- following a vision avenues between war long-brewing motorists and two-wheelers in South Williamsburg. set new of prob-ated a whole BIKE PAINS: BIKE Avenue Bedford ous obstacles such as potholes, car doors, double-parked cars, and photo-snapping tourists — even when riding they’re in bike lanes. t from being “I’ve seen some close close some seen “I’ve Bikers are forced to Busted concrete, deep deep Busted concrete, plenty street’s “The calls,” said cycling advo- cate Mitch Sonies. squeeze between oblivious photos tourists snapping new The and wall a silver the city repairs. installed last year as part bridge of wall shrunk the width of corri- narrow already the potholes, and double-parked well- this riding cars make used route frightening. And motorists the are there then drivewho fast on the popu- especially thoroughfare, lar Fourth speeding-prone near cyclists say. Avenue, wide, so those lanes could really benefi physically separated,” said Mc- Eric advocate cycling Clure. Brooklyn Bridge Brooklyn Ninth Street Street Ninth “We don’t expect don’t “We to ride Shoppers and restau-Shoppers S. FIFTH STREET FIFTH S. from a footbridge near Til- near ter- and golf balls but cyclists — at or footbridge a injuring from Street, lary rorizing least at six bikers. projectiles, The city erected a tall fence from theatop bridge to protect cy- clists the lane is still plagued with potholes and other obstruc- tions, like a stack of wooden crates that blocked the way last week, cyclists say. on a red carpet we — but want our space to be treated Stephen said respect,” with was with hit a Arthur, who . brick on the lane last year some of whom have been and entering rant-goers been popu- this on cars leaving in have corridor lar-but-narrow whom Park Slope make the shared of cyclists, for tricky lane some vehicles, between squished “car-doored,” mo- or hit by torists trying park. to Fifth Avenue Avenue Fifth c nd themselves nd NINTH STREET NINTH “If in it’s a hurry, you’re The whole thingThe whole could But manyBut eastbound rid- Rock-tossing teenagers BROOKLYN BRIDGE BROOKLYN a death trap,” saida death cyclist trap,” Seidenstein. Marc be avoided with a signbe avoided di- recting cyclists to a safer, lessbut intuitive alterna- tive route, bikers say. pedaling directly into fast- into pedaling directly traffi oncoming moving, under Brook- a poorly-lit lyn–Queens Expressway overpass. ers wind up riding in the the in riding up wind ers wrong direction on a block- long stretch a bike without fi then — lane Street near the foot of the the of dumps and terminates lane foot westbound- a into the riders near only path on S. Fourth Street Williamsburg Bridge. last year turned this pedal- this turned year last bone-chill- a into path ing launching by landmark ing objects — including bricks Navy Street Navy Street c c survey con- c survey c. Several have pot- BY NATALIE O’NEILL NATALIE BY South Williamsburg’s “Luckily ended I haven’t It’s only a matter of time, And the stats are dra- Rule-breaking motor- Which think do you is What is a list follows of Some bike lanes are Brooklyn is quickly be- quickly is Brooklyn VOTE: Which of these terrifying bike routes is the most horrifying in Brooklyn? in horrifying most the is routes bike terrifying these of Which VOTE: SCARIEST BICYCLE LANESSCARIEST BICYCLE most confusing eastbound said cyclist Lucas Sanchez. up on the pavement yet,” yet,” pavement the on up fore someonefore gets hurt. cycling advocates say, be-cycling advocates say, ternatives. group Transportation Al- Transportation group ducted by the bike advocacy four-day traffi rush hours, according to a a to according hours, rush ing morning and evening and Johnson streets dur- lane between Willoughby Willoughby between lane vehicles park in the bike bike in the park vehicles matic, too: an average of 49 49 of average an too: matic, one more obstacle to dodge. jay-walking pedestrians are the vehicular lanes , where the vehicular lanes swerve around cars and into ble-parkers force bikers to ven for cyclists. for ven The dou- parking than lot a safe ha- regularly looks more like a link-up lane that the path path the that lane link-up Downtown-to-Manhattan Downtown-to-Manhattan — park so frequently in this frequently so park — van drivers, and cops even ists — including cabbies, cabbies, including — ists the most terrifying? safety experts). safety newspaper’s teamnewspaper’s of traffi cyclists (including this this (including cyclists testimony from dozens of with bike advocates, and and advocates, bike with tion studies, interviews lyn, based on transporta- ing lanes bike in Brook- seven of theseven most frighten- the moon. the blindfolded tractor ride on morning cruise feel like a a like feel cruise morning holes big enough big holes to make a ing traffi ing shoots bikers into oncom- into bikers shoots end without warning. One One warning. without end ble parkedble cars. Others blocked by dozens of dou- daily basis. daily the hearts of riders on a a on riders of hearts the the ones that strike fear in in fear strike that ones the lanes then — but there are number of top-notch bike capital thanks toa growing capital coming coming America’s cycling S. Fifth Street S. Street Fifth Jay Street Jay 4 DT COURIER LIFE, AUG. 3-8, 2012 working shebegan after ayear 2010, in members community and vocates” ad- of“park council the to said Judi Francis. confl nary members. panel other sit with doesn’t well that —and newspaper this by obtained documents and sources committee to ing accord- velodrome, for the work doing multaneously si- while Council Advisory park’s Community on the Advisors for, sat months consulting fi development at the cipal development bike track . cronyism over a $40-million of lobbing allegations are who colleagues her former claim deal, business sweet visory committee ad- Park Bridge Brooklyn to land infl asition onan exploited herpo- woman Critics: Greased wheels at velodrome Bridge Park cycling track pedaled by crony, committee members allege Collignon was added added was Collignon extraordi- are “There Kate Collignon, a prin- Heights A Prospect BY NATALIE O’NEILL icts of interest,” interest,” of icts rm HR & A uential uential contributions to committee say and hervotes sources panel —and bike track proposed for the resentative arep- as after soon surfaced But shere- ago. months two panel the from she resigned because plan onthe voted 2005. since and-off Park on- Bridge Brooklyn work for donesimilar has and gym and track cycling ing consulting work for the fi for the fi plan. the inon cashed rm her —while foravelodrome push to spot board her used peer mer afor- say group planning Park members of a Brooklyn Bridge GRINDING THEIR GEARS: Collignon never actually never actually Collignon rm — which is —which is rm do- Some Some lignon is a 15-year Brook- a15-year is lignon Col- “Kate notes members, choosing in ahand had Park Corporation , which lease from Brooklyn Bridge green space. profi pert whose fi adevelopment as ex- than dent rather who loves parks as a Prospect Heights resi- tees introduced Collignon way appoin- the from stems say, members committee Roy member Sloane. mittee vices [for profi ser- with park the provide who people —not the users ofpark acommunity ing say. hook-ups, members panel stand to gainfrom business members which several in onacommittee snafu ethical ofan one example fl way project. for the discussions helped pave the just —and ofinterest ict Indeed, Indeed, re- press a 2010 problem, of the Part “We should be represent- acon- are roles Her dual t from dealings in the rm stands to t],” said com- said t],” step her role while she was shewas herrolestep while notover- did Collignon said Park, Bridge of Brooklyn time. press by comment seeking mails e- two and acall to spond claim. members panel project, the of money plenty tory. But there’s still to beto a made park in the city’s his- from donation largest the made who Joshua Rechnitz, clist aire philanthropist and cy- million- from city the to gift man Street near Pier 5, is a onFur- built be which will ment’s master plan. develop- the create helped fi when the 2006 and Park Bridge for Brooklyn sulting datingfi the note to butment, fails ofemploy- herplace tion backfamily.” tocity’s 2005 It park system goeson weekends with exploring the her on to found usually resident, lyn men- rm’s major role in con- Regina Myer, president Regina notre- did Collignon The athletic complex, rm bers of the committee are are committee ofthe bers pletely inaccurate.” fiproposed com- is eld house Bridge Park regarding the orBrooklyn [panel] on the infl sheexercised that suggestion Any of interest. so as not tothe beginning of the process pose at a resigned confl Collignon “Kate astatement. in Myer said munity Advisory Council,” Com- ofthe by members any on voted notbeen has and ceeded on its own merits committee. ofthe a member Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 5. at avelodrome to open plans city The DEALING: AND WHEELING Myer also says no mem- pro- has proposal “The uence uence ict ict Sloane said. ing the public’s interest,” notrepresent- now and think. itself group ofthe members advocates.” and stituents of parkcross-section con- represents“truly a broad park ,” and that the panel offi elected local with sultation bers werenotes that committee mem- chosen board. onthe roles teer “ inprofi con- the representing cials “It’s dysfunctional right right “It’s dysfunctional notwhat some But that’s The agency’s website ting from their volun- Photo by Stefano Giovannini Stefano by Photo DT 5 AUG. 3-8, 2012, COURIER LIFE Today Make Your Your Make Appointment Appointment Botox / Dysport Facial Fillers: Perlane, Restylayne, Juvederm, Radiesse, Belotero Chemical Peels Microdermabrasion Fractional Resurfacing Laser Hair Removal Spider Veins Fine Lines Skin Tightening Age Spots Acne Scaring s s s s s s s Effective Treatment of: s s s s N PAIN MANAGEMENT: PAIN s (EATING 0AD s 4ENS 5NIT s 0ARAFl 4HERAPY "ATH s ,YMPHEDEMA 0UMP s "LOOD 0RESSURE -ONITOR 888.233.9039 oducts (liners, diapers, etc.), and call us with your order! 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