*/4*%&1"(&40'$0610/4504"7&:06$"4) Yo u r Neighborhood — Yo u r News® BrooklynPaper.com s (718) 260–2500 s Brooklyn, NY s ©2009 DOWNTOWN, PARK SLOPE & BAY RIDGE EDITIONS AWP/14 pages s Vol. 32, No. 35s Friday, September 4, 2009 s FREE HAKEEM’S DREAM Bail out developers, create cheap housing By Mike McLaughlin includes parts of Fort Greene, Clinton The Brooklyn Paper Hill, Prospect Heights, Crown Heights From the poorhouse to the pent- and Bedford–Stuyvesant. “The bubble has burst and there is ex- house… $)&"1 Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries wants cess inventory,” Jeffries told The Brook- to bail out luxury apartment develop- lyn Paper last week before he submitted ers in his district with new loans that the bill. “Given the high rate of vacancy would turn the high-end units into and the need for affordable housing, “affordable” residences. it seemed important for govern- ment to find a way to transform Michael Short Michael According to Jefferies (D– Clinton Hill), there are dozens some of the excess inventory of incomplete projects and un- into affordable homes.” sold condos across his cen- Jeffries identified 65 tral Brooklyn district — and stalled or empty condo proj- a chronic shortage of below- ects in his district, including The Brooklyn Paper / market rate housing. the totally vacant Isabella con- Thousands turned out to celebrate the late Michael Jackson’s 51st birthday in Prospect A new bill from Jeffries dos on Washington Avenue, the Park on Saturday. would put this peanut butter Collection condos on nearby Clin- and chocolate together — by ton Avenue and the partially filled Bess Adler refinancing loans to troubled residen- Forte building on Adelphi Street. tial developments made between 2004 The experience of Fort Greene, Clin- and 2008 for up to $150 million in ex- ton Hill and Prospect Heights are simi- change for charging below-market rates lar to what’s happened in Williamsburg, 41*,&¤45)3*--&3 on as many as half of the units, the New Greenpoint and other parts of the city York Times reported. that were once bastions of the middle- The Brooklyn Paper / Lee’s party for Jacko goes platinum Jeffries says it’s a great chance to and working-classes. The Collection condos on Clinton Avenue is a salvage stalled projects and stem the But some real-estate analysts say completely empty luxury building that could By Will Yakowicz Another dancer who only flow of gentrification pushing working lenders might not want to participate be converted into affordable housing, ac- for The Brooklyn Paper gave the name “The Kon- class people out of his district, which See JEFF on page 3 cording to Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries. For one afternoon in queror” wore rugged leather Prospect Park, Michael studded with metal and se- Jackson was still alive. quins. Of course, the guest of “I’m trying to represent honor was not able to make my spiritual father Michael it to Spike Lee’s birthday Jackson to the best of my ability,” the 24-year-old His story is not history party on Saturday in the park’s Nethermeade area, said. “Energy never dies. but thousands braved the I am not at [his] level yet, initial downpour to honor but he will live in my ves- their fallen idol, the King sel ’til I pass on, and then Dueling scholars in fight for the ages of Pop, who died in June at live in my students’ vessel age 50. ’til they pass on.” By Ben Muessig 2008 book, “Historic Photos of Brook- Some came in costume, Though the NYPD has The Brooklyn Paper lyn,” which he claims is riddled with fac- some came with posters of gotten out of the crowd-es- Two Kings County historians are spar- tual inaccuracies. the singer from his many timate business, one of the ring over factual inaccuracies in one of “Although Manbeck’s latest work looks musical eras, but all came many cops positioned in- their books, and the fight is getting so in- quite good on the coffee table, when I to celebrate the man. side the park said that at tense that it seems they actually believe the opened it I was appalled to find so many “I feel like he’s alive for- one point, 100 people per adage that only the winner gets to write glaring errors, overlooked or intentional,” ever,” said Aamir Smith, a minute were entering the history. wrote Merlis, who co-authored a number of 20-year-old dancer, who Nethermeade. The book feud — the borough’s biggest local photo anthologies including “Brook- donned a look right out of Short Michael DJ Spinna played Jack- since Park Slope and Prospect Heights bat- lyn: The Way It Was’’ and “Brooklyn’s the “Thriller” era: red silk son’s songs from noon un- tled it out for literary supremacy – started Bay Ridge and Fort Hamilton: A Photo- oriental shirt with frog clos- til 5 pm, backed by a 4,000- when history writer and memorabilia col- graphic Journey, 1870-1970.” ings, tuxedo pants, loafers watt sound-system that sent lector Brian Merlis sent The Brooklyn Pa- “His noble yet failed attempt to in- with white socks, and a jheri Jackson’s backbeats all the per a scathing review of former Brook- form has accomplished the opposite, as curl. “Music is eternal.” The Brooklyn Paper / See PARTY on page 9John Manbeck lyn Borough Historian John Manbeck’s See BKLYN BOOK on page 3 Brian Merlis )&*45)&&((."/ )&8"45)&8"-364 Pol acts to save baby parrots on pole Ayveq’s son By Ben Muessig have to feed them every three til the baby birds fledge and The councilman also made The Brooklyn Paper hours!” said Steve Baldwin, they are out of the nests,” the sure that the rehabbed light- Councilman Vincent Gen- who first reported the story avian expert added. ing fixtures would include tile took Dyker Heights par- on his blog, Brooklyn Par- It seems that Baldwin’s re- similar perches, so his fine- dies at two rots (www.brooklynparrots. quests reached the right ears, feathered friends can safely rots under his wing when he By Ben Muessig com), which is unquestionably because Gentile hatched an rebuild their colonies. postponed a park renovation The Brooklyn Paper that could have caused the one of the borough’s leading idea to delay removing nests “The project as it was origi- sources of information about until September, when parrot nally designed would not have Akituusaq, son of world-renowned walrus Ayveq, worst egg accident since died on Sept. 1 of complications from pneumonia. He Humpty Dumpty’s infamous wild tropical birds. experts say the young birds ensured that the parrots were “We were trying to influ- will be able to f ly to a safe spot kept safe, and it didn’t ensure was two years old. fall. Brooklyn’s adored pacific walrus – the first to be born ence the powers that be to and stay with their parents un- that they would have a home The Democratic pol played in the New York Aquarium’s 113-year history – passed at least delay this work un- til work is completed. once the project is complete,” mother hen – err, mother par- said Dena Libner, a spokes- away after battling the illness for about five days, ac- rot – earlier this year when woman for Gentile. cording to officials from the Coney Island institution. he delayed uprooting parrot “The parrots are an inter- “We are deeply saddened by the loss of our be- colonies from light fixtures esting — and literally color- loved walrus Akituusaq and are proud of the exem- above the so-called “Dust ful — part of this area,” she plary care that our entire staff provided during this Bowl” in Leif Ericson Park added. “It’s exciting to be critical time,” said Aquarium Director Jon Forrest — until baby birds were old able to preserve a very Dohlin, who noted the walrus calf received around- enough to fly. unique aspect of this the-clock attention from a team of specialists in the Removing nests from district and at the days before his death. lights is a necessary part of a same time, bring “We know Brooklyn was proud of Akituusaq and $2.8 million renovation proj- a much needed many loved him,” said Dohlin. “This is a loss to the ect that will turn the dingy project to the whole community.” Before the sudden onset of illness, Akituusaq was sandlot at corner of Eighth Bess Adler community.” Avenue and 65th Street into Baldwin cele- starting to come of age. His tusks had begun to grow an artificial turf field — but brated the decision in and he had started to distance himself from his it would have been a human- as a feather-brained mother, Kulu. itarian disaster if it had been scheme – in the best But in one way, he had not yet started to take after done before the young birds way! his famous father, Ayveq, who was loved the world could fly away, parrot lovers The Brooklyn Paper / “They’ll get by,” said Bald- over – by no one more than himself. told The Brooklyn Paper. Councilman Vincent Gentile (right) made sure parrots win. “Chances are, they’ll just Conservation SocietyWildlife “He had not exhibited any masturbatory behav- “Keeping these birds alive living on a lighting structure in a Dyker Heights park wait around until the work is Mother Kulu and her then-newborn calf Akituusaq. iors,” said Dohlin, referring to Ayveq’s legendary au- isn’t easy for humans – you were not disturbed during the parks renovation.