2 DECEMBER 1 - DECEMBER 7, 2017 BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP
APPLE TO OPEN SECOND
BROOKLYN SHOP THIS
WEEKEND
Tech powerhouse Apple will open its second
location in the borough this weekend at Two Trees’
300 Ashland in Fort Greene/Downtown Brooklyn.
The property is a 32-story, 379-unit mixed-use
residential tower located at the gateway of the
Brooklyn Cultural District and anchored by
50,000 square feet of cultural space, including
BAM Cinemas and a new Brooklyn Public Library
branch.
The store’s grand opening is slated for 10 a.m. on
Saturday, December 2.
POLAR BEAR PLUNGE
REGISTRATION OPENS
In conjunction with “Giving Tuesday,” registration
for the 114th Annual Polar Bear Plunge in
Coney Island is now open.
The Plunge, which takes place annually on
New Year’s Day, doubles as a fun experience
for the whole family while raising funds for the
neighborhood.
Funds raised will support a bevy of local Coney
Island nonprofits including the Alliance for Coney
Island and New York Aquarium as well as other
arts and history nonprofits that will help support
free programming, improve quality-of-life issues
and continue workforce development programs
for the Coney Island neighborhood.
To register or learn more about the coming
Plunge, visit http://bit.ly/ConeyPolar-
Plunge2018 and to join the conversation, use
#ConeyPolarPlunge2018.
PARKS DEPARTMENT
HUNGRY FOR FOOD
VENDORS
The New York City Parks Department is looking
for a new food vendor for Bensonhurst Park, as
well as 145 other sites across the five boroughs.
The agency announced a Request for Bids for
mobile food vendors at 25 Brooklyn locations,
including also Marine Park and Remsen Playground,
both new venues for the program, as is
Bensonhurst Park.
According to the agency, the five-year concession
permits would run annually January through December,
beginning January 1, 2018 and ending December
31, 2022. The types of mobile vendor permits up
for grabs include “non-processing,” like a pushcart,
“processing,” like a food truck and “ice cream” carts.
Bids must be submitted no later than Tuesday,
December 12 at 11 a.m.
For more information, visit www.nyc.gov/
parks/businessopportunities.
-- Meaghan McGoldrick
Straphangers, elected
officials demand action
after latest R train debacle
BY MEAGHAN MCGOLDRICK
MMCGOLDRICK@
BROOKLYNREPORTER.COM
Just when straphangers
thought they were at their
wit's end with the infamous
R line, the 86th Street subway
station – just one of four subway
access points in Bay Ridge,
all of which offer strictly R line
service – quite literally started
to fall apart early Sunday
morning.
According to an MTA spokesperson,
at about 5:30 a.m. on
Sunday, November 26, a panel
of the station’s “pre-fabrication
bolt-on wall coverings” fell from
the wall and onto the tracks just
as a train was pulling in.
In an attempt to avoid hitting
the debris, the conductor of the
oncoming train – which the
agency claims was carrying
about 30 people – brought it to a
safe, albeit abrupt, stop, though
was unable to avoid the paneling
entirely. Instead, a portion
of the panel, the spokesperson
said, ended up wedged under
the train car, making for a grueling
clean-up the spokesperson
confirmed took close to 12 hours.
Though there were no injuries
(contrary to initial reports
that the train had derailed, the
car never dislodged from the
tracks), with work being done
on the station until about 4:18
p.m. that day, riders were left to
utilize an alternative they know
all too well – a complimentary
shuttle bus service in both
directions courtesy of the MTA.
With the station back in
business and service up and
running at what they perceive
as its usual inconsistent pace,
local residents and elected
officials feel the incident is just
another chapter in a story that
will seemingly never end.
“This is another example
why I continue to fight for the
modernization and safety of our
transportation system,” wrote
State Senator Marty Golden on
Facebook Sunday.
Councilmember Vincent
Photo courtesy of Councilmember Vincent Gentile
Debris on the tracks at 86th Street.
Gentile, who has long fought
for a complete overhaul and
reexamination of the R line and
its service, shared similar sentiments.
“The crumbling wall
at the 86th Street station makes
me angry beyond measure,
and evidence yet again which
supports my argument for a
full and complete audit of the
R train station," he wrote, also
on Facebook. "When is enough
enough?”
“I really don't know how many
more wake-up calls we need,”
Councilmember-elect Justin
Brannan told this paper.
“It’s time the commuters
demand their elected representatives
lock themselves in a
room until they figure out how
we're going to fix our crumbling
public transportation system,”
he went on. “This is very clearly
an emergency, all-hands on deck
situation and it requires everyone
to come to the table ready
to work towards real solutions.”
Bay Ridge straphanger Matthew
Kabel agreed.
"That wall falling down was
not only symbolic of the crumbling
infrastructure of our
outdated subway system, but the
lack of strength politicians have
displayed in addressing the
underlying problem head-on,"
said Kabel who, earlier this year,
started a Facebook group where
members can share updates and
statuses on South Brooklyn
transportation. "You almost
have to laugh at the absurdity
of it. I'm happy nobody got hurt,
but what about next time?"
“No more playing hot potato,
no more kicking the can down
the road,” Brannan said. “We all
know the state ultimately controls
the MTA but that doesn't
mean we as city lawmakers can
just simply shrug our shoulders
– not when our subways are literally
falling apart.”