The continuing saga of the attempt to build a nursing home in Red Hook continued last month, as the Borough President Eric Adams’ office published their opinion, and the City Planning Commission (CPC) held their public hearing. The next and presumably last step comes up next, as the City Council takes up Oxford Nursing Home’s application for a zoning change […]
Author: gbrook@pipeline.com
Judge Judith S. Kaye’s lasting legacy in Red Hook, by Kimberly Gail Price
In the early 1990s, Red Hook was on the edge of a dangerous precipice. Riddled with crime, drugs and gangs, several important influences were taking shape and coming together to alter the course of the neighborhood’s future. These quiet movements were suddenly awakened by the unfortunate murder of PS 15’s beloved principle, Patrick F. Daly. In his final moments and […]
$100 million missing from Red Hook IFPS funding, by George Fiala
On January 7, 2014, Vice President Joe Biden came to Albany to announce-together with Governor Andrew Cuomo – a $16.7 billion federally funded package of programs to strengthen New York’s infrastructure against future storms. The money was part of the $50.5 billion in emergency money that congress granted to New York and New Jersey following Hurricane Sandy, with $200 million […]
Donald Trump causes commotion at the Red Hook Civic Association, By Cosmo Politan
PS 15 was filled to capacity last Wednesday for the Red Hook Civic Association monthly meeting. The overflowing crowd packed into the auditorium for the scheduled appearance of Donald J. Trump, notorious GOP front runner for the Republican nomination. The masses were so enormous that the 76th Precinct had to send for support staff, not only to handle the hundreds of […]
Atlantic Basin Mystery SOLVED! by Horatio Hornblower
In June 2015, the NYC Economic Development Corporation (EDC) announced plans for a new commuter ferry connecting Red Hook with other parts of Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens at a comparable rate to subway fare. Improving Red Hook’s transportation connections has been an issue for the greater part of a century. But EDC’s choice of a landing at the very end […]
The Mayor’s new Brooklyn- Queens Trolley scheme, by Floppity Eerzo
After announcing his ambitious plan to build a trolley system in February, Mayor Bill de Blasio has been touring the neighborhoods of his real estate buddies where the streetcar might possibly double, triple or quadruple their property values. In March, he graced Red Hook with his appearance. Although he has no known major campaign donors in the area, he was […]
Notes and Things, by George Fiala
De Blasio’s Connector Mayor de Blasio began the next phase of his reelection campaign last month. Amidst great fanfare, he introduced the Brooklyn-Queens Connector. Back in 2006, Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez allocated $300,000 of federal monies for a feasibility study for a smaller version of it that would connect Red Hook with Jay Street, Borough Hall. The result of that study, […]
Op Ed: The Importance of Participation, by Council Member Carlos Menchaca, District 38
It always takes a village! I’ve learned that this applies in the formation of our families, but also in teaching government to respond faster and better. When neighbors unify and lead community projects, the outcomes are just so much better. Red Hook is a perfect example of this idea. Our community learned how to lead government decisions and processes during […]
Sunny Balzano’s beautiful life, by George Fiala
This adventure started on a Tuesday. On the way to work, I stopped by the longshoreman’s union – catching up on waterfront news as well as enjoying coffee and donuts with my friends there. As I was was leaving the union office a little before 1 pm, I caught the tail end of a Leonard Lopate interview on the radio. […]
Harriet Zucker is Red Hook canine savior, by Halley Bondy
When seasoned dog owner Opal Dubois spotted a large stray pit bull mix wandering her neighborhood in Staten Island, she was smitten. Intent on capturing him and taking him home, Dubois ran home to get a leash – but he was already gone. Dubois discovered through panicked phone calls that authorities had taken him in, and, despite her protests, he […]