FREE PLANT EXCHANGE FOR KENSINGTON AND WINDSOR TERRACE ON FACEBOOK

A free plant exchange/share group was created today on Facebook. Kensington-Windsor Terrace Plant Exchange is located at https://www.facebook.com/groups/KWTPlantExchange.

One hundred people have already joined the group. It's a place for neighbors around Kensington and Windsor Terrace to trade, request, and give away houseplants, garden plants, seeds, seedlings, and offshoots.

Post what you are giving away and what you'd like to acquire. You can also ask questions, make suggestions, and provide links to resources.

Events might include swaps, teach-ins, and garden-ins.

NEW YEAR'S DAY PARKING RULE CHANGES

Alternate side of the street parking regulations will be suspended on Wednesday, January 1, 2020, for New Year's Day. Parking meter regulations will also be suspended.

Parking meter regulations are only suspended on these major legal holidays: New Years Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

PARKING REGULATIONS CHANGED ON CHRISTMAS DAY

Alternate side of the street parking regulations will be suspended on Wednesday, December 25th, for Christmas. Parking meter regulations will also be suspended.

Parking meter regulations are only suspended on these major legal holidays: New Years Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

FREE WINTER CLOTHING DISTRIBUTION

Free Winter Clothing Distribution

Tuesday, January 7th, noon to 2:00 p.m.

People In Need will distribute winter clothing that was collected during its winter clothing drive. Warm clothing, including sweaters, scarves, and gloves, will be distributed to all neighbors in need. 

People In Need is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit. Its mission is

• to provide educational opportunities to the children,
• to educate people regarding their legal rights and immigration status,
• to support people and take stand for them against bullying and violence, and
• to help providing support to the victims of natural disaster.

Location
People In Need
944 Newkirk Avenue
between E. 8th Street and Coney Island Avenue
Kensington, Brooklyn
phone: (917) 615-8206
e-mail: peopleinneednyc @ gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/PINNYCUSA

BIG PLAY DATE AND COMMUNITY CHANUKAH CELEBRATION

                             
 

UPDATE: Discounted early registration if you sign up by noon on Tuesday, December 24th. Members: $10 per adult, $25 per family. Non-members: $12 per adult, $28 per family.

 ------------------------------------------

               
                 Big Play Date and Community Chanukah Celebration
                                 Wednesday, December 25th
                9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Big Play Date, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The open-play Big Play Date includes a Chanukah-themed food craft with local mother Leah Koenig (author of The Jewish Cookbook, dubbed one of the "18 Essential New Cookbooks for Fall" this year by Food & Wine magazine), a sing-along with Sarah Stein, and art and games.

Light snacks will be served.

Children of all ages are welcome. They must be accompanied by at least one adult.

The cost of the Big Play Date is $5 per child or $10 per family. Pay in advance with PayPal or pay in person on the day of the event.

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Community Chanukah Celebration, 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
 
3:00 p.m.: Movie
4:30 p.m.: Games for children and adults, cookie decorating, and marshmallow dreidel-making
5:20 p.m.: Menorah lighting
5:45 p.m.: Dinner (dairy/vegetarian with a Chinese touch)
7:00 p.m.: Billiards night upstairs; dreidel game in the Hanid Room in the basement
8:00 p.m.: Lailah Tov

This is open to children and adults, but adults don't need to be accompanied by a child.

The cost of the Community Chanukah Celebration for Flatbush Jewish Center members is $12 per adult and $6 per child age 6 and up. For non-members, the cost is $14 per adult and $8 per child age 6 and up. Register on PayPal or pay at the event.

Location
Flatbush Jewish Center
327 E. 5th Street
corner of Church Avenue
Kensington, Brooklyn, New York
https://flatbushjewishcenter.org/
 

AGENDA FOR COMMUNITY BOARD 7 PUBLIC MONTHLY MEETING

                    Community Board 7 Public Monthly Meeting
                Wednesday, December 18th, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The regular monthly Board Meeting of Community Board 7 will be held on Wednesday, December 18th, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. CB 7 covers Windsor Terrace and Sunset Park.

The following is the proposed agenda: 

1. The Pledge of Allegiance
2. Opening of the meeting
3. Adoption of the agenda
4. Adoption of the Minutes of the Board Meeting of November 20, 2019
5. Public Comment
6. Presentation by the U.S. Census Bureau
7. Committee Reports:
   A. By-Laws Committee (No Vote Required)
      1. Review goals for By-Laws
      2. Discussion on what our needs are
      3. Next steps and next meeting date
   B. Economic Development/Waterfront Committee (No Vote Required)
      1. Discussion on Industry City rezoning application and manufacturing in Sunset Park
      2. Presentation by Southwest Brooklyn Industrial Development Corporation
   C. Housing Committee (No Vote Required)
      1. Community Benefits Agreements
      2. How has this impacted the housing?
   D. Land Use/Landmarks Committee (No Vote Required)
      1. Planning Workshop regarding Industry City rezoning application
      2. Application #C190296ZMK – In the matter of an application submitted by 1-10 Bush Terminal Owner L.P. and 19-20 Bush Terminal Owner L.P. pursuant to Sections 197-c 201 of the New York City Charter for an amendment of the Zoning Map, Section N. 16b
      3. Application #C190297ZSK – In the matter of an application by 1010 Bush Terminal Owner L.P. pursuant to Sections 197-c and 201 of the New York City Charter for the grant of a special permit pursuant to Section 129-21 of the Zoning Resolution
      4. Presentation by UPROSE on the GRID proposal (Green Resilient Industrial District)
   E. Nomination Committee
      1. 2019 Elections
8. Elected Officials/Representatives
9. District Manager’s Report
10. Chairperson’s Report
11. Old Business
12. New Business
13. Public Comment
14. Adjournment 



Location
Community Board 7 Office
4201 4th Avenue (entrance on 43rd Street)
Sunset Park, Brooklyn

phone: (718) 854-0003
fax: (718) 436-1142
e-mail: bk07 @ cb.nyc.gov
website: http://www1.nyc.gov/site/brooklyncb7/index.page
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Brooklyn-Community-Board-7/195263140637225

AGENDA FOR COMMUNITY BOARD 12 MEETING TOMORROW NIGHT

Community Board 12 Monthly Public Meeting

Tuesday, December 17th, 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Community Board 12 (representing Kensington, Borough Park, and Midwood) will hold its next meeting tomorrow night, Tuesday, December 17th, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Agenda 

1. Pledge of Allegiance

2. Adoption of November Minutes

3. Public Session

4. Chairman’s Remarks – Yidel Perlstein

5. District Manager’s Remarks – Barry Spitzer

6. Old Business

7. New Business

8. Attendance

9. Adjourn

The minutes of last month's meeting have not been distributed yet.

The board's monthly meetings are open to the public.

If you have any concerns, questions, solutions, needs, or problems that you'd like the community board to address, arrive at the meeting before 7:00 p.m. and sign up to speak during the public session (item 3 on the agenda). You'll have three minutes to present your topic.

Public meetings of Community Board 12 are normally held on the fourth Tuesday of the month, from September through June, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., but are subject to change.

Every neighborhood in New York City is represented by an all-volunteer community board, which serves as the neighborhood's liaison to city agencies. Board members are appointed by the neighborhood's city councilperson and the borough president.

Community Board 12's committees are

•         Planning, Zoning Variances and City Map
•         Education, Library, Cultural Affairs
•         Sanitation & Environmental Protection
•         Fire, Safety & Police
•         Health & Social Services
•         Housing & Buildings
•         Legislation
•         Parks, Capital Projects & Site Selection
•         Transportation & Franchises
•         Youth & Community Development

Meeting location
Amico Senior Center
5901 13th Avenue, 3rd floor
corner of 59th Street
Borough Park, Brooklyn

Enter the building on 59th Street. The meeting room is accessible by elevator.

 --------------------------------------------

Community Board 12's office is located at 5910 13th Avenue.
phone: (718) 851-0800
fax: (718) 851-4140
e-mail: bk12 @ cb.nyc.gov
https://twitter.com/BrooklynCB12
https://www.facebook.com/BkCB12

FREE OUTDOOR COMMUNITY SING ALONG

Winter Solstice Community Sing Along

Saturday, December 21st, 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Raise your voices in song on the first day of winter. Sing along with family, friends, and neighbors at the 2nd Annual Winter Solstice Community Sing Along in Kensington Plaza.

Singer, pianist, and neighborhood resident Deidre Rodman Struck will lead people in song. Celebrate the season and stay warm with free hot chocolate, courtesy of Jimmy's Juice Bar & Grill.

The Kensington Stewards, in conjunction with Make Music NY, will host the free event on Saturday, December 21st, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Location
Kensington Plaza
114 Beverley Road
between McDonald Avenue and E. 2nd Street
in front of Walgreens
Kensington, Brooklyn
 

NO MEETING OF THE 66TH PRECINCT COMMUNITY COUNCIL THIS MONTH

The 66th Precinct Community Council will not hold a public meeting in December. Its next scheduled meeting will be on January 16, 2020, in a location to be announced.

The 66th Precinct Community Council provides an interface between citizens and police during its regular monthly meetings. Meetings are normally held on the third Thursday of the month, from September through June. The Community Council does not meet in July or August.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Contact information for the 66th Precinct:
phone: (718) 851-5611
5822 16th Avenue
between 58th and 59th streets
Borough Park, Brooklyn

e-mail: 66precinctcc @ gmail.com
website: http://www1.nyc.gov/site/nypd/bureaus/patrol/precincts/66th-precinct.page
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NYPD66Pct or @66precinctcc
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/NYPD66pct/posts/?ref=page_internal

ALTERNATE SIDE PARKING RULES SUSPENDED TOMORROW

Alternate Side Parking Rules Suspended on December 11th

Alternate side parking (street cleaning) regulations have been suspended for Wednesday, December 11th, to facilitate snow operations, including the use of salt spreaders, snow plows, etc.

All other parking regulations, including those governing parking meters, will remain in effect.

MEET WITH THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE PRECINCT COVERING WINDSOR TERRACE AND SUNSET PARK

72nd Precinct Community Council Public Meeting

Tuesday, December 10th, 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Residents of Windsor Terrace, Greenwood Heights, South Slope, and Sunset Park will get together with police officers to discuss past crimes and find out what the precinct is doing to prevent future crimes at the 72nd Precinct Community Council's monthly meeting.

On Tuesday, December 10th, from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., learn what types of crime have been taking place, their frequency, why they happen, and how the public can help prevent them. The doors will be opened at 7:00 p.m.

Voice your concerns about criminal activity: armed robberies, rape and other forms of sexual assaults, home break-ins, burglaries in local stores, bank robberies, gang activity, traffic safety, stolen bicycles, package theft, and any other crimes.

Windsor Terrace, Greenwood Heights, South Slope, and Sunset Park lie within the boundaries of the 72nd Precinct. Everyone who lives or works within those boundaries is invited to attend Community Council meetings. Contact the Community Affairs officers at (718) 965-6326 if you have any questions.

Meetings of the 72nd Precinct Community Council typically take place on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m.

Meeting location
Church of the Redeemer
4717 7th Avenue
between 47th and 48th streets
Sunset Park, Brooklyn, New York

------------------------------------------

72nd Precinct contact information
Phone number: (718) 965-6311
web page: http://www1.nyc.gov/site/nypd/bureaus/patrol/precincts/72nd-precinct.page
CompStat report (crime statistics): http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/downloads/pdf/crime_statistics/cs-en-us-072pct.pdf
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NYPD72Pct
Facebook page for 72nd Precinct:  https://www.facebook.com/NYPD72pct
Facebook page for 72nd Precinct Community Council: https://www.facebook.com/72nd-Precinct-Community-Council-1611883092371304

NOTES ON THE SPECIAL FOLLOW-UP MEETING ON CRIME IN WINDSOR TERRACE

• Four speed cameras were installed by Fort Hamilton Parkway and E. 5th Street.

• Patrols in the southwestern portion of Windsor Terrace were increased. That is the part that is closer to Kensington and is west of the Prospect Expressway.

• Safety checks were conducted at the Fort Hamilton Parkway F/G subway station.

The 72nd Precinct's commanding officer, Deputy Inspector Emmanuel Gonzalez, provided that update at the specially-called meeting of the 72nd Precinct Community Council on November 26th.

Those actions and the specially-called meeting were in response to complaints that residents made at the regular-scheduled monthly meeting of the Community Council on November 12th.

Inspector Gonzalez also reported the following:

• Calls made to the precinct about a caped man proselytizing loudly on the steps of the P.S. 130 Lower School were not assigned a high enough priority. He is working with his communications officers to investigate the slow response time.

The School Safety Officer had called the precinct to report a disorderly person at 12:30 p.m., but the police who cover the sector of the precinct that the school is located in were on a scheduled mealtime. That meant that officers in Sunset Park had to respond to the call. Because of traffic conditions, their trip to the school took thirty minutes. The man left the school's premises after the officers spoke to him.

• Two students were fighting on Fort Hamilton Parkway by E. 3rd Street. One of them threw a garbage can, and one of them pushed the other one into the street. In the presence of the students, a teacher from Brooklyn Prospect Charter School made a racist comment to the police and told them not to interfere.

• Two girls were fighting about a boy. A third girl smashed someone's cell phone. The two girls went to the police station with their parents for mediation. They will pay for the phone.

• Pop-up crews are on the precinct's radar. Crews are not gangs. But they are affiliated with gangs. Crews are comprised of people who live on the same block as each other.

• Complaints have been called in about scooters being operated carelessly.

• CompStat reports are misleading. Statistics for theft from mailboxes are combined with statistics for robberies of individuals.

At the meeting, a resident reported a response time of one hour and five minutes for a call she made when she witnessed graffiti being written on P.S. 130. She called the precinct at 4:15 p.m. and again at 4:45 p.m. The police arrived at 5:20 p.m. She also saw similar graffiti on the school building the past weekend. She is concerned about these incidents because the perpetrator might be a parent with a restraining order in place who is not permitted on school grounds.

"Report everything," an officer from the precinct said. If something is not reported, for all intents and purposes, it is as if it did not happen.

------------------------------------------

72nd Precinct contact information
Phone number: (718) 965-6311
web page: http://www1.nyc.gov/site/nypd/bureaus/patrol/precincts/72nd-precinct.page
CompStat report (crime statistics): http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/downloads/pdf/crime_statistics/cs-en-us-072pct.pdf
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NYPD72Pct
Facebook page for 72nd Precinct:  https://www.facebook.com/NYPD72pct
Facebook page for 72nd Precinct Community Council: https://www.facebook.com/72nd-Precinct-Community-Council-1611883092371304

ALL ABOARD FOR THE POLAR EXPRESS MOVIE NIGHT

The Polar Express Movie Night

Saturday, December 14th, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Travel to the North Pole on The Polar Express on Saturday, December 14th, for a night of family fun. Wear pajamas--like Hero Boy did in the movie--and bring a blanket to sit on.

The Polar Express Movie Night, presented by Immaculate Heart of Mary Youth Ministry and the Girl Scouts, will include

• the G-rated, Christmas-themed movie The Polar Express, shown on a twenty-foot screen,
• a Polar Express photo booth,
• hot chocolate,
• cookies,
• popcorn, and
• a special gift from Santa.

 
The Conductor and Santa will also pay a special visit.

There will also be items for sale and raffles will be held.

Doors will be opened at 6:30 p.m. The movie will start at 7:00 p.m. It runs for one hour and forty minutes.

Tickets cost $5.00 each. For a family of five, the cost is $20.00. Tickets are for sale in the rectory, located at 2805 Fort Hamilton Parkway, between E. 4th and E. 5th streets, in Windsor Terrace. 

Event location
Brooklyn Prospect Charter School Gym
3002 Fort Hamilton Parkway
between E. 2nd and E. 3rd streets
Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn

ALTERNATE SIDE PARKING SUSPENDED ON TUESDAY

Alternate Side Parking Rules Suspended on December 3rd 

Alternate side parking (street cleaning) regulations have been suspended for Tuesday, December 3rd, to facilitate snow operations, including the use of salt spreaders, snow plows, etc.

All other parking regulations, including those governing parking meters, will remain in effect.

SNOW PARKING RULES

         Alternate Side Parking Rules Suspended on December 2nd

An inch or two of snow might fall today before the snow changes to rain. Another one to three inches of snow is a possibility for tomorrow night.

Because of this weather forecast, alternate side parking (street cleaning) regulations have been suspended for Monday, December 2nd, to facilitate snow operations, including the use of salt spreaders, snow plows, etc.

All other parking regulations, including those governing parking meters, will remain in effect.

KARAOKE AND ITALIAN DINNER FUND RAISER FOR SEAN CASEY ANIMAL RESCUE

Sean Casey Animal Rescue's Holiday Party Fundraiser

Thursday, December 12th, 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Food, dancing karaoke, raffles, and 50/50 will be the highlights of the holiday party fundraiser for Sean Casey Animal Rescue.

The donation price of $30 includes guaranteed entrance, an Italian buffet dinner prepared by Bruno Ristorante in Howard Beach, cake, and five raffle tickets.

You must be at least 21 years old to attend.

For tickets and more information, go to https://seancaseyanimalrescue.ticketleap.com/party.

You can also buy tickets at the rescue at 153 E. 3rd Street, between Fort Hamilton Parkway and Caton Avenue, in Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn.
 
If you can't attend but you'd like to support the rescue's work anyway, you're welcome to donate tickets to the rescue's volunteers. At the ticket site, write "Volunteer" in the space where you are asked to write in the name of the ticket holder.

All of the proceeds will be used to benefit Sean Casey Animal Rescue.

Event location
Shenanigans Pub
802 Caton Avenue
corner of E. 8th Street
Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn, New York

--------------------------------------------

Sean Casey Animal Rescue is located at 153 E. 3rd Street,
between Caton Avenue and Fort Hamilton Parkway, on the border of Windsor Terrace and Kensington in Brooklyn.
(718) 436-5163
nyanimalrescue @ yahoo.com
http://nyanimalrescue.org
http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/NY637.html
https://www.facebook.com/SeanCaseyAnimalRescue
https://twitter.com/nyanimalrescue
https://www.instagram.com/nyanimalrescue

AGENDA FOR COMMUNITY BOARD 12 MONTHLY PUBLIC MEETING, NOVEMBER 2019

Community Board 12 Monthly Public Meeting

Tuesday, November 26th, 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

--------------------------------------------

-------- Forwarded Message --------

Subject:	November Board Meeting Agenda
Date:	Tue, 26 Nov 2019 13:58:16 -0500
From:	Community Board 12

Dear Board Members, Elected Officials, & Interested Parties 

Attached is the agenda for November's board meeting tonight Tuesday, November 26th at

Amico Senior Center - 5901 13th Avenue, 3rd floor (entrance on 59th St) at 7:00pm.

Thank you

--------------------------------------------

Community Board 12 (representing Kensington, Borough Park, and Midwood) will hold its next meeting tonight, Tuesday, November 26th, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The board's monthly meetings are open to the public.

If you have any concerns, questions, solutions, needs, or problems that you'd like the community board to address, arrive at the meeting before 7:00 p.m. and sign up to speak during the public comment period (item 4 on the agenda). You'll have three minutes to present your topic.

Public meetings of Community Board 12 are normally held on the fourth Tuesday of the month, from September through June, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., subject to change.

Every neighborhood in New York City is represented by an all-volunteer community board, which serves as the neighborhood's liaison to city agencies. Board members are appointed by the neighborhood's city councilperson and the borough president.

Community Board 12's committees are

•         Planning, Zoning Variances and City Map
•         Education, Library, Cultural Affairs
•         Sanitation & Environmental Protection
•         Fire, Safety & Police
•         Health & Social Services
•         Housing & Buildings
•         Legislation
•         Parks, Capital Projects & Site Selection
•         Transportation & Franchises
•         Youth & Community Development

Meeting location
Amico Senior Center
5901 13th Avenue, 3rd floor
corner of 59th Street
Borough Park, Brooklyn

Enter the building on 59th Street. The meeting room is accessible by elevator.

 --------------------------------------------

Community Board 12's office is located at 5910 13th Avenue.
phone: (718) 851-0800
fax: (718) 851-4140
e-mail: bk12 @ cb.nyc.gov
https://twitter.com/BrooklynCB12
https://www.facebook.com/BkCB12

LOCAL NEWS COVERAGE IS LIMITED, LEAVING US UNDERINFORMED

Reprinted from Bklyner, with the permission of the editor and publisher

-----------------------------------------------------------

Who Pays For News In Brooklyn?

Liena Zagare is the editor and publisher of Bklyner. 

Liena Zagare

November 21, 2019 @7:56 pm

“School board and city council meetings are going uncovered. Overstretched reporters receive promising tips about stories but have no time to follow up,” Julie Bosman wrote in the New York Times yesterday on the perilous state of local news.  Truth, and not just in some small town elsewhere in America, it applies to our city too, it applies to our work at Bklyner.

What worries me most about the current state of local news in Brooklyn is that we increasingly do not know what we are missing.

Brooklyn has the population to be the 4th largest city in America, and yet we only have a dozen or two reporters across all the outlets combined. There are three independent local news outlets in Brooklyn, Bklyner and two legacy papers, along with some local cable stations. We may all purport to cover all of Brooklyn, but in reality, all of us combined don’t do it justice.

The Knight Foundation and Gallup did a poll recently that the NYT was referencing in that story above, to look at the perceptions of the state of local media – a collapsing industry despite the implications for American democracy that relies on the free press for checks and balances.

They found that folks love their local news outlets, but they don’t really want to pay for news, and they don’t think the government should subsidize news, but they do think everyone should have free access to news. Tall order.

So who pays for it in Brooklyn?

“Just one in five Americans have supported local news in the past year by subscribing to, donating to or purchasing a membership to a local news organization,” Knight report says, the rest thinking, erroneously, that the industry can survive without their support.

So, maybe you subscribe to the New York Times, though they aren’t covering day to day news in Brooklyn.  Maybe you pick up a copy of the Daily News and The Post, or the free Brooklyn Paper or The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (but I have ever only encountered it at the courthouse while on jury duty). Those are all legacy for-profit outlets. The first two lose millions each year, allegedly, and are essentially private charities, the latter are in the business of printing government-mandated legal notices – if they disappeared, I bet so would the papers. If you have cable, you are paying for NY1 and the like.

Maybe you subscribe to us – we are, somewhat surprisingly, funded only by our subscribers, our advertisers, and my credit card when there is not enough cash for payroll.

Everyone loves a free lunch. Except – while it may be “free to you,” somebody always pays for it. With traditional sources like advertising and classifieds having gone the way of the dinosaurs in the last couple of decades, how is local news to make money to pay reporters?

This year we can add THE CITY to the citywide non-profit news outlets like WNYC/Gothamist, Chalkbeat, Streetsblog and Gotham Gazette. THE CITY raised millions and seems to have one dedicated reporter per borough, or so, in addition to some veteran beat reporters. They do great stories that have an impact – but have limited reach –  something new outlets struggle with, but it seems a particular challenge for non-profit news, with the focus on just the biggest impact.  It’s also the mission of these nonprofits to focus pretty exclusively on tough accountability stories, which is a good thing – but there is more to local news and living in our communities that is worth writing about, rooting for and celebrating. If you write just about the crime, and not about the good things taking place in the community it is easy to distort reality. I want a bit of candy with my kale. I want balance.

Regardless of how a news outlet is funded, reporting is always affected by those paying the bills – be they big foundations, big corporations, eccentric billionaires or peculiarities of the legal system. I like the “thousands of small subscribers” approach because it keeps us accountable in the most direct way to our readers, and I wish we had a few thousand more subscribers ourselves. But that is on us – convincing folks like you that our work is worth paying for, something you cannot get elsewhere. Something that is worth doing.  Something that makes your life in your city better. It is hard when our stories get re-reported by other outlets without credit, for it gives the impression that others would have come across the story anyway. They may or they may not. We will not know.

Sure – by the Knight Foundation standards there is no news desert in Brooklyn, but having three truly local community news outlets with barely any reporters does not mean the coverage is comprehensive, or even competitive, and quality varies a lot – a product of time and resources available. How much quality, timely, original reporting is being created? And who, how many people read it?

Take for example local politics. We have 16 council members in Brooklyn, and there is no way right now that we or our competition or all of us together can do a semi-decent job of covering the local elections coming up in 2021. If last year’s races are any indication of how many contestants per council seat to expect, then the numbers are daunting. We have 12 council seats in Brooklyn up for election due to term limits in 2021, and if each gets 10 candidates that will result in 120 races for office to cover just in Brooklyn.   Who will cover them, with the larger outlets inevitably focusing more on the citywide Mayoral and Comptroller races? It is likely a lot more money will be spent on political ads on social media and direct mail than will be spent by subscribers and advertisers on local news in the same period of time, and there are not enough reporters. Unless something changes drastically – there will not be enough reporters.

We all make assumptions and calculations – that someone else will cover this meeting or that. That someone else will do something. And then none of us do.

We don’t know what we don’t know until something bad happens and then it is often too late. So I will end on a local story.

Just this week, we did not have the resources to cover an important traffic safety meeting about Coney Island Avenue – something we and I in particular care and have written a lot about over the almost 12 years of covering the area. But – I was exhausted, and some of our advertisers were taking their sweet time to pay, and I had no extra money to hire someone to cover a meeting that would take hours to attend and report on. So we did not. And as far as I know – no news outlet did, though it was an important meeting.

In fact – we only had someone at 1/4 of the community meetings we wanted to cover this week. Community boards, police precincts, community education councils – places where decisions get made about land use, policing and school rezoning efforts.  Community groups and grassroots organizations, charity work by neighbors. You probably don’t know they ever took place. And if we failed to cover your event – this is why.

We will keep reporting regardless of whether you subscribe or not – for as long as we can – because we care. But if you want us to be bigger and better – and if you have read this far you probably do care – please become a paying subscriber. (A $5/mo subscription will allow access for 5 devices in a household, and it is easy to cancel. For corporate/group subscriptions please email me at Liena@bklyner.com.) Or give someone a gift subscription for the holidays.

We cannot do it without you.  And neither can our competitors – don’t like us, subscribe to them. Donate a few dollars to THE CITY and GOTHAMIST and CHALKBEAT and STREETSBLOG and GOTHAM GAZETTE – they all do their bit to paint a fuller and more complete picture of what’s going on. Competition is good for everyone.

Just, please, do subscribe to your local news outlets.

PARKING REGULATIONS SUSPENDED ON THANKSGIVING

Alternate side of the street parking regulations will be suspended on Thursday, November 28th, for Thanksgiving. Parking meter regulations will also be suspended.

Parking meter regulations are only suspended on these major legal holidays: New Years Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

PHOTOS WITH SANTA, CRAFTS, GAMES, A COOK-OFF, AN AUCTION: A BUSY DAY AT THE WINTER BAZAAR

                     P.S. 130 Annual Winter Bazaar Holiday Market
                   Saturday, December 7th, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 25, 2019

PS 130 Annual Winter Bazaar, Saturday, December 7, 11 AM - 3 PM

PS 130 Upper School, 713 Caton Avenue

Open to the public, the free event supports local artisans selling handcrafted items for holiday gifting.

Highlights include: 

• Free Crafts & Activities from Brooklyn Game Lab, Barking Cat Art Studio, and others

•Chili/Hot Soup Cook Off with Local Celebrity Judges 

•Summer Camp Auction

• Photos with Santa & Elsa

•Scholastic Book Fair 

•Performances from PS 130 Students & Parents 

BROOKLYN, NY – The P.S. 130 PTA is excited to announce that it will be hosting its annual Winter Bazaar from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm on Saturday, December 7, 2019 at its Upper School, located at 713 Caton Avenue, between E. 7th and E. 8th streets, on the Windsor Terrace/Kensington border.

The highly-anticipated event is open to the public, supports our local artisans, and provides a place for communal gathering. From jewelry to home decor, paper goods to beauty products, families and neighbors will be able to shop local for unique gifts while enjoying a festive, inclusive atmosphere. 

Free Crafts, Games, & More
Highlights include free crafts and games, live music performances by P.S. 130 students and parents, a hot soup/chili cook-off judged by local celebs, a Scholastic book sale that benefits the school, photos with Santa and Frozen’s Elsa, a summer camp auction, and more! 

Winter Auction
Our Winter Auction gives parents the chance to snag some deals on summer camps, recess camps, and goods and services from local businesses! Bid from Monday December 2 through Saturday December 7 at 2:45pm https://tinyurl.com/s9qakoy. Bids are tax deductible! 

Chili and Soup Cook Off
Put on your chef hat and bring a pot of homemade chili or soup for a chance to win bragging rights in the annual chili/hot soup cook off. This year’s celebrity judging panel is made up of 44th District Assembly Member Robert Carroll; Oliver Rivera, partner at popular Windsor Terrace restaurant Cena; and Ms. Maria Nunziata, our school’s beloved principal. The winner will take home a very special P.S. 130 Best Chili trophy.

Cook off entries will be available for sale, as well holiday baked goods and treats.

Proceeds from the event support the PTA at P.S. 130, a diverse, Title I school community serving over 800 students in the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Kensington and Windsor Terrace.

Contact

Liz Edmund & Nate Gray, PS 130 PTA Co-Presidents

info@ps130pta.org