Dec. 25–31, 2015 Including Park Slope Courier, Carroll Gardens-Cobble Hill Courier, Brooklyn Heights Courier, & Williamsburg Courier FREE SERVING GOWANUS, PARK SLOPE, PROSPECT HEIGHTS, WINDSOR TERRACE, BROOKLYN HEIGHTS, DUMBO, METROTECH, BOERUM HILL, CARROLL GARDENS, COBBLE HILL, RED HOOK, WILLIAMSBURG & GREENPOINT Panel: Ban this charter WRONG TURN network! BY LAUREN GILL Bridge exit They’re hoping for limited Suc- cess. A controversial charter- school network that has been plagues accused of using harsh pun- ishments to weed out diffi cult students must be banned from Concord St. opening new outposts in and around Fort Greene until the BY LAUREN GILL city investigates the company’s Things have taken a turn for discipline policy, a local panel the worse. of public-school parents de- A city decision to allow manded last week. traffi c coming off the Manhat- Faculty at Success Academy tan Bridge to turn down a tiny Charter Schools’ three-year- Downtown street has trans- old Fort Greene location came formed a residential road under fi re in October when the into a dangerous de facto off- New York Times reported the ramp, and offi cials must close school once kept a “got to go” it again before someone gets list that singled out trouble- hurt, say nearby residents. some students, and used fre- “Somebody is going to get quent suspensions and other killed,” said Downtowner demands on parents’ time to Juan Salazar, who lives near push them to leave. Now, some Concord Street — the trou- local parents say they want the bled thoroughfare in ques- city to put a wall up around the tion — and claims the stream school district to keep Success of trucks and cars pouring off out. the bridge plague the narrow “We’re very upset and we street with near-collisions and think it’s only fair that these congestion around the clock. allegations are fully run down Since October, drivers ex- and investigated,” said David iting the span have been al- Goldsmith, president of Com- lowed to turn left onto Con- munity Education Council 13 cord Street at any hour of the — a volunteer board that also day — where previously they advises the city on schools in New Year’s in Paradise could only do so during rush Brooklyn Heights, Downtown, hour between 3:30 pm and 7 Prospect Heights, Clinton Hill, Jimmy Buffet will host the ultimate in laid-back New Year’s Eve parties at 9:30 pm at Barclays Center pm. and parts of Park Slope and on Dec. 31, with guest Huey Lewis and the News. It’s 12 o’clock somewhere! AP / Jason Fochtman The local community board Continued on page 31 Continued on page 14 A CNG Publication Vol. 35 No. 52 UPDATED EVERY DAY AT BROOKLYNDAILY.COM 16,000 sf NOW IN PARK SLOPE/SOUTH JOIN NOW $1999 A MONTH & SAVE! Zumba, Zumba Toning, Boot Camp, Yoga, Spin, Surfset Fitness, Pound, Tanning, Childcare, Personal Training, Juice Bar PARKING 25 12th St. Next to LOWE’S | 378 FREE SPOTS! | 718-788-0123 INSIDE Gone, not NNN%9IFFBCPE;8@CP%:FD GL9C@J?<;9P:E>(D<KIFK<:?:<EK<IEFIK?('K?=CFFI9IFFBCPE#EP(()'( forgotten Hundreds of police offi cers, elected offi cials, and civilians gathered outside the 84th Pre- Driving beats: Nicky Siano will clear the bumper cars from the Eldorado Auto Skooter for his New Year’s Eve dance party. Photo by Jordan Rathkopf cinct station house Downtown Final countdown on Sunday to honor Offi cers DJ legend hosts his last New Year’s party Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos, a By Dennis Lynch who helped to build the city’s dance cabinets go all the way down to 24 Siano said New Year’s Eve will be big- his party is gonna be bumpin’. club culture while spinning at Studio hertz, that’s lower than what the human ger and better. He and his crew have A Coney Island bumper car 54, says that his final year-end produc- ear can hear, they’re incredible,” said since installed new dance floor lights Tarena will host the wildest and tion will be a night to remember. Siano. and will clean out a game room to create loudest New Year’s Eve bash in the city. “We’re doing fog, confetti cannons, The music is the most important a laid-back lounge area. The Eldorado’s Discotheque legend Nicky Siano will we’ve got the best sound system in the aspect of the dance party, he says, backyard will also give patrons a stellar spin classic records into the wee morn- city, it’s going to be something grand,” so the party’s unusual location hardly view of the New Year’s Parachute Jump year after a deranged gunman ing hours at “The Very Last Ultimate said Nicky Siano. matters. midnight light burst nearby. Disco Extravanganza” at the Eldorado The bumper-car spot’s extraordinary “People are going out to listen to The beloved DJ will perform along- Auto Skooter on Surf Avenue, and the sound system is the city’s only remain- music, so why not provide them with side disco legends Rochelle Fleming of 60-year-old master of ceremonies says ing system designed by the late legend- the best sound you possibly can?” Siano First Choice, Melba Moore, and D.C. La this will be his last time producing a ary club sound designer Richard Long, said. “Now a lot of bars spend all Rue, who will be playing “dancefloor New Year’s Eve party. who was responsible for the sound their money making the bar look good. hits” all night, said Siano. “It’s just the amount of work that systems at fabled clubs like Studio 54 People don’t give a s--- about what the “The Very Last Ultimate Disco killed the in Bedford-Stuyve- goes into producing and performing at a and the Paradise Garage. Long’s unique bar looks like when it sounds bad out on Extravanganza” (1216 Surf Avenue, New Year’s Eve party,” said Siano, who cabinet designs provide a quality that no the dance floor.” between Stillwell Avenue and W. 12th Street plans to focus on performing shorter other dance floor speakers can match. Siano first played the Eldorado for in Coney Island, www.nickysiano.com/ sets rather than putting together his own “The highs and mids are cleaner, his 60th birthday party. Around 600 NewYearsEve2.html). Dec. 31, 10 pm—6 shows. But the Sheepshead Bay native, richer, they’re more complete. The bass people made it out for that party, but am. $75. sant. Authorities unveiled two Your entertainment plaques dedicated to the slain guide Page 35 offi cers, which police brass said will serve as a permanent reminder of that the pair paid Police Blotter ..........................8 the ultimate price in the line of Standing O .............................18 duty. “Everyone who enters this Letters ....................................32 station house will be reminded Tom Allon ..............................33 of their sacrifi ce,” said police Rhymes with Crazy ............34 commissioner Bill Bratton. Sports .....................................45 Associated Press / Julie Walker It was our type of party! HOW TO REACH US Community News Group’s holiday shindig was off the chain Mail: Courier Life BY COLIN MIXSON cause that’s what we are,” said “I think Ralph D’Onofrio Publications, Inc., It was the press event of the President and Publisher Jen- tore the dance fl oor up,” he 1 Metrotech Center North season. nifer Goodstein. “They’re a said. “I couldn’t tell you what 10th Floor, Brooklyn, Community News Group’s Brooklyn institution, and we the dance was, but it was very Brooklyn, Manhattan, like doing business in Brook- fast, almost like a ritual.” N.Y. 11201 Queens, and Bronx staff ven- lyn. Plus, the food’s great.” D’Onofrio claimed that his General Phone: tured to Buckley’s in Sheep- By the end of the night, the routine was entirely unre- (718) 260-2500 shead Bay for the company’s papers’ movers and shakers hearsed, but that inspiration News Fax: annual holiday bash on Dec. had ripped the dance fl oor at for his awe-inspiring boogie (718) 260-2592 17. It was one of those rare op- the Sheepshead Bay watering “comes from within.” portunities where hard-work- hole to shreds, according to Afterwards, there was News E-Mail: ing newsies forgot the stress staff writer who donned a pair some disagreement over which [email protected] of grueling production cycles of snazzy, sequined slacks for Community News Group de- Display Ad Phone: and daily deadlines amid food the event. partment partied the hardest. (718) 260-8302 and libations, and colleagues “We had a royal knees-up,” The sales department cut Display Ad E-Mail: separated by several yards said Staff Writer and “A Brit- loose and blew off the most OPEN BAR!: Editors Paul Schindler, [email protected] of offi ce space had a chance isher’s View” Columnist Sha- steam, one editor said. to reunite, according to one Bill Roundy, and Max Jaeger shared vana Abruzzo, “Sales cut it up on the Display Ad Fax: staffer. drinks at Buckley’s Bar and Grill. A few staffers took advan- dance fl oor — no doubt — but (718) 260-2579 “It was good to see everyone tage of the party to distinguish somebody had to keep Brian Classified Phone: out and hang out with differ- which is headquartered Down- themselves as bona-fi de jitter- the Bartender company, and (718) 260-2555 ent people you don’t speak to town at MetroTech, decided to bugs, and Vice President of a few of us folks in editorial Classified Fax: on a normal basis,” said Clas- keep its business in the bor- Advertising Ralph D’Onofrio’s did that job with unmatched (718) 260-2549 sifi ed Salesman Teddy Thele- ough and headed to Buckely’s moves in particular left an in- gusto,” said Deputy Editor maque.