Hamill: 'I hate bike lanes' and support the mayoral candidate who will put the brakes on them

Hamill: 'I hate bike lanes' and support the mayoral candidate who will put the brakes on them - NY Daily News
(Excerpt

Roadways are being squeezed to fit the danger-free fantasy lanes, 'a barrier reef for the Hipster Highway for Richie Rich on his $1,500 Lance Armstrong doperacer.'

Audit reveals that 36 Brooklyn park projects are over budget or behind schedule

Audit reveals that 36 Brooklyn park projects are over budget or behind schedule - NY Daily News

(excerpt)

Thirty six Brooklyn park projects are behind schedule or running over budget - and the city is lying to the public about the numbers, a controller’s audit charges.
“The [PARKS]Department is not carrying out and overseeing capital projects in a timely and cost effective manner,” the 28-page audit by city controller John Liu’s office stated.
Citywide, 47 percent of the parks construction projects were not completed on time in 2010 and 2011, costing the city’s cash strapped coffers $10 million, the audit said.

Reversing Past Trend, New York’s Jewish Population Rises

Reversing Past Trend, New York’s Jewish Population Rises - NYTimes.com
(excerpt)
The Jewish population in the New York area grew by 9 percent over the last decade, reversing a longstanding trend of decline, the study found. But the growth did not affect all Jewish neighborhoods equally. Two-thirds of the rise was propelled by two deeply Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods in Brooklyn with high birthrates — Williamsburg and Borough Park. Some of the city’s more affluent areas, like Brownstone Brooklyn and the Upper East Side, saw declines in their Jewish population, according to the study. Here is the complete study by the UJA Federation.
The Jewish Community Study of New York 2011

PS 288 in Coney Island finally reopens

Minus desks, internet and phones, Coney Island school reopens | The New York World (full article)

(Excerpt)
“Welcome back,” a man said as he passed Joelene-Lynette Kinard, the principal at the Shirley Tanyhill School.

Kinard said that while Monday had been “wonderful,” the last couple months had been anything but. Flooding during the storm released the contents of oil tanks in the school’s basement, bringing oil and water up to the first floor and damaging seven classrooms, the cafeteria and the school nurse’s office, she said. Extensive repairs were required before the school could welcome back its students.

“It was such bad damage I didn’t even know if we would open this soon,” Kinard said.

While the school was closed in November and December, its nearly 500 students, from pre-K to 8th grade, were taken by bus to I.S. 228 David A. Boody school in Gravesend, Brooklyn, three miles away.

Jewish group leads fight against Coney Island casino

Jewish group leads fight against Coney Island casino • Brooklyn Daily
(Excerpt)
The Sephardic Community Federation — a Manhattan-based advocacy group claiming to represent 100,000 Sephardic Jews in the metro area — unleashed a salvo of ads against the proposed slot house in December, claiming it would bring debauchery, sin, and seedy characters to the People’s Playground.

Coney Island Eatery Celebrates New Year With Free Meals For Sandy Victims

Coney Island Eatery Celebrates New Year With Free Meals For Sandy Victims - NY1.com
(Video)

Tom's Restaurant in Coney Island served hundreds of free hot meals on Saturday to local business owners and neighbors who were affected by Hurricane Sandy.

Restaurant management collaborated with the ConeyRecovers initiative, the Mayor's Fund, the Met Council and other charitable organizations on the event to help celebrate the new year with the Brooklyn community that has eaten there for three generations.

"We do what we can. We're a family place and we worry about the community," said Billy Vasilios, the manager at Tom's Restaurant. "One hand washes the other."

Dozens of diners enjoyed breakfast staples like pancakes, eggs and french toast and then those who came for lunch enjoyed burgers, grilled chicken sandwiches and Philly cheesesteaks.

Struggling after Sandy in Coney Island

Steeplechase pier is off limits

Manned park vehicle posted at entrance to damaged Steeplechase pier.

As reported earlier significant damage is present because of a shift of the cement blocks that supported the pilings holding up the deck during Sandy.

Best breakfast on the boardwalk-Tom's Coney Island!

Best breakfast on the boardwalk-Tom's Coney Island! - CNN iReport

No arguments here...and don't forget the scrumptious pancakes. Enough for the next morning.

Luna Park: 1905

Luna Park: 1905 | Shorpy Historical Photo Archive

Brooklyn Gentrification and other stuff

Brooklyn Gentrification: The Map!: Gothamist

This link will take you to maps of property information and other interesting layers of information about how your home location and neighborhood compares to others in the borough such as property values, flood zones, transportation, schools, etc..  Lots of maps and layers to keep you busy exploring stuff you need to know or don't care to know. From propertyshark.com.