Mara Gay Choose Bail Reform Over Reporting the Sexual Assault of a Bay Ridge Woman

Anyone who read the story of Kalief Browder would understand why bail reform was necessary. (See here) Yet, NYS politicians took bail reform too far.  Progressives forgot to consider who would be harmed by bail reform. From what we have seen, it’s communities where residents or the police presence are considered weak.  

Mara Gay, a reporter for the New York Times wrote about bail reform as if she wasn’t a New Yorker. Her  careless reporting doesn’t mention that a woman in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn was sexually assaulted and had her pants pulled down in the 95th Street Train Station bathroom. The woman fought the man off herself, while a homeless man outside the bathroom banged on the door. (See here) The suspect had been in jail for almost a year, but was released in December 2019 because of reforms.

Why did Mara Gay leave out the woman who was sexually assaulted in my neighborhood? Because to Mara Gay, that woman doesn’t matter and her story doesn’t fit the narrative that Mara Gay wants to push. This story was in the news for days, so I am sure everyone knows it. Is that woman no one because she hasn’t spoken to a reporter and Mara Gay doesn’t know her name? Can you imagine the fear that 31-year-old woman had to feel as she fought off her attacker. And now that strong victim has to sit by as educated journalists ignore what happened to her and politicians point the finger and fail to correct the law.

When did reporters think writing opinion columns were okay?  When a well-known reporter does an opinion column, people consider it the truth, even when they have left out key information. Jumaane Williams, the NYC Public Advocate, spread Gay’s article on social media, even though he knows what happened to the woman in Bay Ridge. Who is Williams advocating for if he isn’t speaking for the victim?  Corey Johnson did the same, but Johnson doesn’t know Brooklyn.

Mara Gay also wasn’t isn’t entirely correct in stating that Andrea Cousins was protecting Democrats in swing districts. My senator, Andrew Gounardes, is up for re-election and he doesn’t seem to care that a woman was sexually assaulted in his district. He mentioned it once on social media, but then pushed the blame at the judge for releasing the young man.  As we have seen in Brooklyn, the judge can only do what the law allows him to do. We were shocked to see that Senator Gounardes was not part of the group of senator who was working to overturn bail reform. It’s not Gounardes’ mother, sister or wife who was assaulted, so it isn’t important to him.  

Prior to this incident, I highly regarded Mara Gay as a talented writer. Sadly, she’s become one who has stopped printing the truth and now pushes a political agenda. The agenda for most New Yorkers is clear: fix the bail system so young men like Kalief Browder aren’t caught in it and give first time offenders of low level crimes a chance. Gay should have written how our NYS representatives are too lazy to edit their bill even though it’s obvious what needs to be rewritten.

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Getting Ready for St. Paddy’s Day

Now that Valentine’s Day is over, it’s time to get ready for St. Paddy’s Day!

The Canny Brothers will be at The Leif Bar on Saturday February 22nd from 3-7  pm to celebrate the 30 days to the The Bay Ridge St. Patrick’s Day Parade – info here

Norma’s Arts and Crafts is having a Paint Nite on February 28th. You have to sign up by February 21st (if you see this after that date, call any way and they will fit you in if they have a cancellation)

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Costello’s Ace Hardware Store – Last Day

Costello’s Ace Hardware in Dyker Heights closed today.   

Sad to see the place close up as it was a place that we could run to fast to grab a needed item.

Rumors are that another hardware store is going to take over part of the place and a medical office is going to take over another part (but there is no confirmation of this).

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Lola Star Gift Shop Needs Help With a Lease

If you have been to Coney Island, you know Dianna Carlin’s shop, Lola Star on the Boardwalk.   Story here  and here

This year Carin and five other store owners on the Boardwalk are facing significant rent increases.  Nathan’s Famous, Ruby’s Bar & Grill, Paul’s Daughter, Tom’s Restaurant, and the Coney Island Beach Shop

Carin’s shop has been in Coney Island for 19 years and hasn’t received an increase for almost ten years.   

Carin’s shop is one of the smallest on the Coney Island Boardwalk. Hopefully, she will receive help in negotiating a contract. As of Friday, February 15th,  she has not signed a lease.

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Heartbroken in Bay Ridge on Valentine’s Day

Update: The following day, the Parks Department cleaned the words of the broken-hearted guy. Fresh start for the cement and for the Bay Ridge guy!

Dear Heartbroken in Bay Ridge. Yes, Valentine’s Day sucks when you are alone.  We’re sorry she doesn’t love you. Poor thing wrote, “I Love You” on the steps.

Now we have to look at the graffiti mess on the 97th Street ramp on Shore Road. 

You didn’t give us a chance, Heartbroken!  And now all we have is ugliness in our park.

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Do Cyclists Know There Are Rules or Do They Just Not Care?

Sometimes, I think cyclists don’t know there are rules to riding on NYC streets because they are new to this country and don’t know there are rules for cycling since there were none in their country.

Yet, most times I get the feeling that cyclists just don’t care. The video above was posted by an experienced rider in our area this week.

Before our local politicians OVERRIDE Community Board 10 with more bike lanes, check this cyclist’s use of our roads.

While I can’t applaud the cyclists for blowing the red light at the beginning of the video, I give the cyclist props for taking a step back when they stopped in the pedestrian walk and the pedestrian had the right of way. 

At the end of the video, the entitled cyclist just takes the center of the street because there is no bike lane. Riding in a car behind the entitled cyclist is awful. The cyclist shared this video on Youtube – does he or she think this is legal?

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Rock Painting in Bay Ridge Today 2/15

Events in Bay Ridge This Weekend – here

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Missing Bay Ridge Cat – 94th Street

Smokey is missing.  Smokey is 2 years old and EXTREMELY friendly.

He has a flea collar on.

He was last seen on 94th and Ridge Blvd on 2/15 at 3:00 pm and has been missing since.- 347-885-2245

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Illegal Converstion Caused Fire in Bensonhurst

Loudlabs NYC

There was a three alarm fire last night in Bensonhurst Brooklyn.  Firefighters worked for hours  to put the fire out in these two homes. It was windy last night and that made it a lot worse. More videos here.

Thankfully, no people were hurt – 29 people from seven homes were displaced. There was an illegal conversion in the attic, complete with illegal gas plumbing.  (Source)

Below is a video taken today of 1948 85th Street – after the fire. 

The news and the man taking the video below said that 25-30 people are said to be displaced. Hmm how come do 25-30 people live in these homes?   Is it a large family or is this a home that has been altered?     

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Standard Burger in Bay Ridge Closed

Standard Burger at  8812 3rd Avenue closed after being open for two and a half years.  See here

I’m not surprised by this as there are some great burger places nearby at fair prices.

One of the owners of Standard Burger is also a co-owner of Nature’s Grill in Bay Ridge and Staten Island.  

.

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Shabbat at BRJC with Max Rose

On Friday, February 28th, The Bay Ridge Jewish Center at 405 81st Street in having a Family Shabbat service and  dinner with Congressman Max Rose.

Everyone is invited.  RSVP is required by February 225th  to [email protected] or 718-836-3103.  

BRJC has these dinners regularly. I’ve never seen them have a politician join them like this. People love Max Rose and Rose has a presence in Bay Ridge. 

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Bagel Story Switches to Fritebar

Bagel Story at 8501 3rd Avenue has a front window where they sold Van Leeuwen ice cream. It was just a scoop shop – not an actual Van Leeuwen shop.

The owner removed the lit up Van Leeuwen sign and have a Fritebar sign up. He separated Bagel Story from the Fritebar.  

Frites = fries  (usually ones with toppings and sauces).  It’s good to see stores switch things up. 

There is a grill there, so burgers will probably be served.

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