Markowitz Approves Triangle, Endorses Levin

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Markowitz approved the Broadway Triangle rezoning, with some conditions, which generally follow those set by the Community Board. Marty goes a bit further by identifying a specific place (Whipple Street) to get additional open space. He also signed on to (and strengthened) the proposal that local businesses be protected and given relocation funds.

The Triangle moves on to City Planning now.


Steve Levin Carpetbagger?

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No one seems to know who is behind Real Reform Brooklyn. But it’s pretty clear that he/she/they do not like Steve Levin. (Or Jo Anne Simon for that matter, but he/she/they definitely does not like Levin more more than he/she/they doesn’t like Simon.)

Its nice to see someone engage on a local race like this, but it seems to me that there is much ado about nothing in a lot of Real Reform’s attacks on the various candidates (including their “deconstruction” of Evan Thies). Take, for instance, the Levin carpetbagging claim. I don’t doubt that Steve moved into the 33rd District in order to run for Councilmember* – candidates do that all the time.

So what?

It would make a difference if Steve had no track record of community involvement, but that’s not true. He has worked in the community for many years, and has made a name for himself. Yes, Steve is Vito Lopez’s candidate. He might be his “own man” once he gets into office, but for now, he is running on his resume as Vito’s Chief of Staff (and he has built up a nice resume there). You might not like him because of his connections to Vito, but it’s a big stretch to call him an outsider.

Keep it real – focus on real issues.

*(Claims by Levin supporters commenters that he only moved “down the street” are just plain silly – 26 blocks is not “down the street”.)

Short Candidate Profile: Doug Biviano

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Aaron Short continues his series of candidate profiles for the 33rd Council District with Doug Biviano. If I were voting on biography alone, Biviano would be my choice (he had me at sailing).

[I know I linked to Thies, who was the first in the series, but was on vacation when Simon ran – you can find Jo Anne’s profile here. I’ll dig around the Courier archives (always a painful process) to see if there were others. And Aaron – any chance you’ll be giving the 34th the Short profile treatment?]

[Photo: Aaron Short]


Curbed Reader Rant: Trucks on Wythe

A tipster writes to Curbed:

Today marks the first day of the Kent Avenue change in traffic direction (one of your favorite topics). And of course, despite assurances by the planners, traffic has been diverted to Wythe Avenue, not Roebling as proposed.

Saw this myself this morning – 18-wheelers trying to make the turn from Broadway onto Wythe (can’t do it in one pass). From what I saw, it wasn’t a case of traffic being diverted onto Wythe, but rather a case of no signs and no police directing traffic anywhere.

Score one point for those who were worried that the City would drop the ball on this.

Newtown Creek Bike Tour

NAG’s Ryan Kuonen is leading a bike tour of Newtown Creek, “including the industrial heritage, oil spills and pollution plumes, combined sewage overflows, and the ecosystem of estuaries”.

[via Laura]

Thousands Mourn Firefighter Paul Warhola

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Warhola was a firefighter at Engine 221 on South 2nd Street. He died last week when he suffered a stroke while responding to a call on Kent Avenue. Our condolences to his family and to his fellow firefighters at 221.