Author: Brian Abate

News

Update on Red Hook Rec Center and Ballfields, by Brian Abate

The Red Hook Recreation Center has remained closed despite getting a temporary boiler after the previous boiler sustained damage during Hurricane Ida in September. The rec center originally closed indefinitely due to the boiler. After some in the community complained, there was initially hope that it could re-open on December 27th. That date got pushed back to January 3rd. However, […]

Feature Story

A successful accidental business, by Brian Abate

As I walk down Van Brunt St. to get to work each day, I have been intrigued by a store that features bright green moss in the window. This month I spoke to MossBoss NYC’s founder, Adzi Jasari who gave a greater understanding of his business. “This wasn’t something I always had planned,” Jasari said. “I was actually an MRI […]

News

Senator Kavanagh’s Virtual Town Hall, by Brian Abate

New York State Senator Brian Kavanagh held a virtual town hall for South Brooklyn this December. He has represented South Brooklyn and some parts of Lower Manhattan in the senate since 2017, having replaced Daniel Squadron. One of the issues that came up a few times was the increased street traffic caused by lane closures on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. […]

Feature Story

Pearl Street Caviar, by Brian Abate

On Commerce St., right off of Van Brunt St., there’s a black door that says Pearl Street Caviar. I’ve passed by many times without ever paying attention to it, but Pearl Street Caviar product specialist Monica Olivares and founder Craig Page were kind enough to talk to me about their business and take me on a tour. Though I didn’t […]

News

DoorDash, Alexa Aviles Give Away Turkeys at Red Hook Neighborhood Senior Center, by Brian Abate

DoorDash gave out turkeys along with the Red Hook Initiative and Council Member-elect Alexa Aviles in honor of Thanksgiving at the Red Hook Neighborhood Senior Center. “We’re proud to have supported the Red Hook Community Senior Center, the Red Hook Initiative, and Council Member-elect Aviles in their work to provide seniors with nourishing meals ahead of Thanksgiving,” said a DoorDash […]

News

Update on Flood Protection, Last-Mile Warehouses and The Stephen Siller Run By Brian Abate

Flood Insurance I’ve been in contact with with Jim Tampakis of Tamco Mechanical for the past year regarding the issue of numerous last-mile warehouses moving into Red Hook. He has been pushing for them to use green modes of transportation, including using the waterfront rather than relying solely on trucks. Tampakis has become an advocate for the Red Hook community, […]

News, Politics

Talking to our City Council candidates, Interviews by Brian Abate

In 2012, Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc in our community. Basements were flooded, cars destroyed and power was out for almost a month – mostly at the Red Hook Houses,NYC’s second largest public housing project. That’s when Carlos Menchaca came to the neighborhood, dispatched by Kathleen Quinn, at the time Speaker of the City Council. He made himself familiar at the […]

Environment, News, Real Estate

Velazquez and Simon convey concerns over Gowanus rezoning report, by Brian Abate

Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez and Assembly member Jo Anne Simon spoke to a frustrated crowd of people in the Whole Foods parking lot next to the Gowanus Canal. They both voiced their concerns about the city’s Gowanus rezoning plan which was approved by Mayor Bill de Blasio. The rezoning plan would allow real estate developers to build new condos in the […]