Tom Stanten is Challenging Andrew Gounardes for the NYS Senate Seat – District 26
Tom Stanten announced that he is running for the NY State Senate to represent District 26. He is challenging Andrew Gounardes for the seat.
I do not know Tom Stanten, but many people in Bay Ridge do and they shared the flyer above about Tom’s fundraiser on March 25th at Mussels and More at 8001 – 5th Avenue at 6:30 pm.
I am very interested in finding out more about Tom, as we need someone who is interested in fighting for Brooklyn!
So far I know this about Tom Stanten:
1) He is a retired NYPD detective and US Navy Veteran. *This is a good thing – he’s not a professional politician (like Steve Chan).
2) After retiring from the NYPD, Stanten worked as a K9 handler specializing in bomb detection for a private security firm at The United Nations, the Times Square Theater District and Sports Arenas. *This is also good because he may have some ideas to stop the robberies in the area. Senator Gounardes has never addressed crime in our area.
3) Tom’s running to make our streets safer. This is also good because Andrew Gounardes and Transportation Alternatives aren’t improving our streets. We see chaos happening with the electric bikes/scooters and speeding, but Senator Gounardes has no solutions, even though many people have asked him to take action.
4) Tom Stanten is a parent and he’s interested in improving schools. Senator Andrew Gounardes let the NYS government cut afterschool programs in our district two years in a row. Gounardes failed to tell the parents about the cut, so they could make alternate plans for their children. When the parents protested, Senator Gounardes did not stand with parents. Gounardes didn’t even speak out against the defunding of afterschool on social media.
5) Tom Staten has written that he will fight for lower taxes. Senator Gounardes told us that Marty Golden was at fault for the high property taxes. Andrew Gounardes said he was going to fix the high property taxes. Gounardes failed to do anything about taxes on his first year in office, I wrote to him. Senator Gounardes responded that he would get it done the following year. Andrew Gouanardes hasn’t discussed property taxes in Albany in years. He just doesn’t care!
Costs are up in NYC in almost every category, but Senator Gounardes has not taken action:
Our community needs a person who is brave and can speak out for the community.
We shouldn’t see Senator Gounardes making videos to promote Lyft GetA/Citibikes OR GetAround cars, which used our streets to store their cars (Play the video below). GetAround quickly went out of business and the signs for their parking spots were quietly removed. Click on the video below to hear Andrew Gounardes speak about this company.
When our neighbors on 73rd Street had squatters on their block, Andrew Gounardes did not help them. He’s an attorney and he knows the law. Why didn’t he help? Info:
We need someone who can hold community meetings and talk with Ridgites about street safety and other issues in our district. Senator Gounardes just wants to make silly videos and post graphics to social media.
Andrew Gounardes failed to tell the community when NYC contacted him that a homeless shelter would be put on 4th Avenue in Bay Ridge. Brooklyn residents obtained the letter Gounardes received through a FOIA request (Freedom of Information Act).
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March 20, 2026Brooklyn Roots’ Beautiful Window – For Easter
Chef Thomas Perone was outside his restaurant, Brooklyn Roots at 8720 – 3rd Avenue in Bay Ridge.
He was talking about his dish, Octopus Ragu, so octopus lovers, go enjoy it. I had no interest in that, but I noticed his beautifully painted window! I love when businesses decorate!
Perone also shared that he is thinking about having a cooking class at his other restaurant, The Corner on 86th Street and 3rd Avenue. See here: https://shorturl.at/mmIug
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March 20, 2026Hii Cannabis Dispensary – 3rd Avenue in Bay Ridge – Next to Starbucks
Hii Cannabis Dispensary is opening at 9206 – 3rd Avenue.
For some people, it’s just another marijuana store in the neighborhood.
Just like liquor stores, children can not make purchases at the dispensaries.
In the past, the weed shops were not legal dispensaries and some teens were able to purchase. But the dispensaries have security and we haven’t heard of any purchases made by teens.
If you would like to work at this dispensary, call 917-863-1760. You can do inventory, deliveries or become a budtender, which is like a bartender, but for cannabis.
There is a Hii Cannabis Dispensary in Williamsburg and they deliver the weed: https://hiinyc.com/shop/brooklyn so they will probably do the same here in Bay Ridge.
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March 20, 2026Party With The Canny Brothers After the St. Paddy’s Day Parade in Bay Ridge on Sunday 3/22
There are still a few last minute tickets left for this Sunday’s Bay Ridge Parade After Party in St. Ephrem’s Gymnasium.
Reach out to Mary Donnelly 917-816-3733 or Brian Cassidy 917-803-8176.
Parade information and other parties here:
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March 20, 2026Assemblyman Lester Chang Does the 90’s Trend
Assemblyman Lester Chang doesn’t play around on social media.
So it’s nice to see him participate in a trend. Assemblyman Chang shared pictures of himself from the 90’s – it’s a cute video. Watch it:
Hopping on the trend. #NYC #90s pic.twitter.com/W3BVeyUwki
— Assemblyman Lester Chang (@AMLesterChangNY) March 20, 2026
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March 20, 2026Eid Mubarak Bay Ridge!
Eid Mubarak! Ramadan has ended and many of our neighbors are celebrating Eid. Eid Mubarak means to have a blessed feast! You can also say Happy Eid.
If you hear some fireworks because people are celebrating, be understanding.
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March 19, 2026Tomorrow 3/20 – Press Conference Outside Proposed Homeless Shelter on 86th St.- Brooklyn
Senator Steve Chan, Assemblyman Lester Chang and Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis are having a press conference on Friday, March 20th at 12:00 pm outside the proposed homeless shelter site at 2501 – 86th Street, which NYC wants to open in 2027.
See News:
https://bronx.news12.com/bensonhurst-residents-renew-fight-against-proposed-mens-homeless-shelter
Recently, the Mandami administration contacted the elected leaders and said work would begin on the homeless shelter soon.
Senator Steve Chan wrote a Board of Standards and Appeals challenge because the building permits were improperly issued. That case will be heard soon.
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March 19, 2026New Marshalls Store Coming to Industry City
Photo: Miguel G.
Many people in Bay Ridge and Sunset Park are glad to see the new Marshall’s sign at The Liberty View Plaza in Industry City at 850 – 3rd Avenue (the former Bed, Bath and Beyond site). This is on 30th Street.
Photo: Miguel G.
There’s a huge parking lot at this site, so it’s going to be easy for people to go shopping here.
They are opening on Thursday, April 23rd at 8:00 am (confirmed on 4/12/26:
Photo: Miguel G.
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March 19, 2026BINGO Lovers – This Weekend in Bay Ridge
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March 19, 2026Thieves Tried to Rob a 67-Year-Old Man on 86th Street and 17th Avenue
On Thursday, March 19, 2026, two men wearing ski masks tried to rob a 67-year-old man.
He was slashed in the head and hand during on 17th Avenue and 86th Street at 1:00 am. The thieves ran off and didn’t get any money from the man.
News: https://pix11.com/news/local-news/brooklyn/man-67-slashed-in-the-head-during-botched-brooklyn-robbery-nypd/amp
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March 19, 2026Police Chased Man From NJ to Brooklyn. Arrested Him on the Belt Parkway
Brooklyn residents got stuck on the Belt Parkway today during rush hour.
A 25-year-old man from NJ, allegedly kidnapped his girlfriend at gunpoint and was chased by the police. News: https://shorturl.at/dVyEB
The police followed the vehicle through Staten Island and caught up with the man on the Belt Parkway. There were several collisions on the Belt Parkway including one with a police vehicle.
The police arrested Justin Gonzalez, and charged him with criminal possession of a weapon, assault, and reckless endangerment near the Cropsey Avenue exit on the Belt Parkway. Source:
https://shorturl.at/jiOW7
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March 19, 2026Fireworks Dropped on 72nd Street and 5th Avenue in Bay Ridge
A Bay Ridge resident shared that a box of fireworks was put in the middle of the crosswalk on 72nd Street and 5th Avenue and lit. She and her dogs were 40–60 feet away from it.
If you have a dog, you know how terrible dogs feel when fireworks are set off. One of the dogs slipped out of her collar, but her owner was able to get her. The dog owner held her two dogs and tried covering their ears. She had to carry her dogs home after the fireworks.
The photo above is from an hour later, after someone dragged the burning box to the corner.
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