Author: GreenpointBlog

Councilman Antonio Reynoso coasted to victory last night in the Democratic primary for City Council.

Seeking a second term, Reynoso, who represents Williamsburg, East Williamsburg, Bushwick and parts of Ridgewood, Queens, collected 6,452 votes, or 64 percent of the total vote, according to the Board of Elections.

His Democratic challenger, district leader and educator Tommy Torres, got 3,527 votes, or 35 percent.

In a district dominated by Democrats, Reynoso will likely retain his seat after November’s general election.

Looking to clean out your closet?

Town Square is hosting a Greencycle Back-to-School Swap next Saturday, September 9, from noon to 3 p.m. at the Leonard Library.

You can drop off or pick up men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, shoes, books, toys, bikes, phones, household items and electronics.

Town Square will take electronics until 2 p.m.

Only cleaned, gently-used and working items will be accepted.

All remaining items are donated to local homeless shelters.

Suggested donation is $10 per family.

Later this afternoon, Assemblywoman Maritza Davila is partnering with the 83rd Community Council to issue free IDs and other school giveaway items to kids in the community.

Local elementary school students can get book bags and school supplies to prepare for the new year.

The event will be held in the yard of the 83rd Precinct at 480 Knickerbocker Avenue from 1 to 3 p.m.

Co-sponsors include McDonald’s, Petro Home Services, Mini Max and Sam the Glazier.

 

 

Mayor Bill de Blasio and Councilman Antonio Reynoso are hosting a town hall at the Williamsburg Community Center on Wednesday, August 30.

Doors open at 6 p.m., and the event begins at 7 p.m.

Co-sponsors of the town hall include El Puente, Los Sures, St. Nicks Alliance, Make the Road, Churches United for Fair Housing (CUFFH), Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A and Grand Street Settlement.

It’s a perfect opportunity to ask the mayor or his agency commissioners about a number of local issues, including the controversial Pfizer development sites and affordable housing opportunities for Williamsburg, Bushwick and Greenpoint.

The 3rd annual Grand Street Restaurant Week is back!

From August 21 to 27,  diners can enjoy two-course lunches or three-course dinners for special prices at a dozen local eateries.

The price for lunch ranges from $9 to $15, while dinner will only cost you from $12 to $30.

You can find the participating restaurant menus here.

New restaurants taking part this year include Wafa’s Express, Ammazza Caffee and Lolita Grand. Coming back are local favs like Bahia, Masha and the Bear and Ryujin.

Take advantage of the great deals before Restaurant Week is over!

State Senator Daniel Squadron, who represents the 26th Senate District announced in an op-ed in the New York Daily News that he will resign on Friday.

Squadron was originally elected in 2008 in what he later called a “season of hope and change,” in a statement he posted online, but will resign to launch a national political effort.

In his resignation statement, he touted the progress made in nearly a decade in the State Senate.

Though progress has sometimes been slow — and there is much more to do in this much less hopeful time — the many constituents, colleagues, and staff with whom I’ve partnered have kept that enthusiasm, and pride in public service, alive.

Together, we’ve secured millions for public housing, storm resiliency, and waterfront parks. We’ve won a Lunar New Year school holiday, and a more equitable parks system. We’ve fought to hold Albany accountable, cut through red tape, advocated for subways, and tried (and tried, and tried) to fix a corrupt campaign finance system. I’ve been grateful for every chance to support a local school, make an intersection safer, or stand up to a bad landlord.

Squadron’s resignation will not impact the power balance in the Senate currently, which is under GOP leadership. The seat will be filled during the November election.

District 26 encompasses parts of: Brooklyn Heights, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, the Columbia Waterfront, DUMBO, Downtown Brooklyn, Fulton Ferry, Greenpoint, the Navy Yard, Vinegar Hill, and Williamsburg, and the Manhattan neighborhoods of Battery Park City, Chinatown, the East and South Villages, the Financial District, Little Italy, the Lower East Side, SoHo, and Tribeca.

Assemblywoman Maritza Davila is partnering with the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce this morning to bring services to local small businesses.

As part of the Chamber On-the-Go program, trained specialists will connect with small business owners across the city, providing needed resources to better serve customers.

Davila and the Brooklyn Chamber will be stationed at Knickerbocker and Stanhope in Bushwick to meet small business owners from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today.

Join the Greenpoint Community Environmental Fund (GCEF) and Neighbors Allied for Good Growth (NAG) on Saturday, August 12 for their third “Curb Your Litter: Greenpoint” event of 2017.

Partners in this event include Evergreen Exchange, Investors Bank, Newtown Creek Alliance and North Brooklyn Boat Club.

The clean will focus on Northeast Greenpoint, east of McGuinness Boulevard and north of Norman Avenue. The meeting spot is Broadway Stages, at 203 Diamond Street.

All volunteers will get a free lunch as well.

To RSVP, see here.

Free movie Friday continues this summer, courtesy of Town Square’s SummerStarz series.

This Friday at Transmitter Park, bring your kids, friends, family and loved ones to catch “Kung Fu Panda 3.”

Here’s Town Square’s description: “When Po’s long-lost panda father suddenly reappears, the reunited duo travels to a secret panda paradise to meet scores of hilarious new panda characters and defeat supernatural villain Kai.”

Bring a picnic blanket, and enjoy!

The Greenpoint Star caught up with rising hip-hop artist, Derek ‘CantStop’ Atson, to talk about his recent music, performances, the state of hip-hop, and his movement in Brooklyn.

See full story here.

Also… Come out tonight to see Can’t $top gang Ru$ Grey and Derek Atson Live at the Aloft Long Island City-Manhattan View for the “BEFORE The Fame” concert.