“It feels a little vintage, a little glamorous, a little cheeky. It’s sort of the thing you can imagine someone saying with a wink.”

Hey Neighbors, 

Happy Saturday. I know it’s a bit nerdy, and I didn’t even read the book (though I think it was assigned in grad school), but I’m heading over to my new favorite arts/culture space this afternoon, Judgy Baby (officially opening next year) to watch a live marathon reading of Robert Caro’s The Power Broker (see details below) about Robert Moses. 400 people signed up to read, even overnight!  

If you stick around to the end of today’s Ward 6, you’ll see why Moses is on my mind. 

And…I met a woman this week from Washington Heights, which has a fantastic hyperlocal newsletter like Ward 6, who said to me: “I love hyperlocal news, because it makes me love my neighborhood even more.” 

If you agree with her, please consider sharing Ward 6 with every single one of your friends, and, of course, your family. And consider giving yourself an early holiday present and upgrading to a supporter or splurge for a friend.  It’s way cheaper than a cocktail!  I spent $20 bucks last night on a drink–WFT?? I’m so used to the obscene prices, but every once in a while, like last night, I become obsessed with what it costs to drink in public.

Post#61: Brooklynites need your help; Food, Food, Glorious Food: what’s opening (hint: tacos) and what’s delicious; Montero’s for the record books; why Yes, Darling in CGardens is my new fav store; Express Youself! Tons of civic meetings; Why the Cobble Hill Association supported the BMT “plan” when our sister neighborhoods did not: brace yourself for a juicy infrastructure story, 

Local reporter Asar John has a comprehensive list (with updates) of where you can donate to support the families and the Flatbush community impacted by the tragic building collapse in his newsletter, Brooklyn Grounds. Asar also writes for the Red Hook Star-Revue.

Buildings in our communities have also collapsed. A building that housed a Court Street gym collapsed, and its landlord had been fined multiple times. And a building on Columbia St./Degraw partially collapsed when the soil shifted due to sewage system upgrades. 

Even so, nothing compared to what happened on Flatbush.  

ICYMI: Nako opened earlier this week at 385 Smith St, its second location after the wildly successful BK Heights cafe; Mexico City-inspired Taqueria Ramirez in the former Oculus space on Smith is getting closer to opening (gawd how we’ve need a legit taco around here!) - check out this F*ck, That’s Delicious episode featuring the owners; lastly, Diljan Bakery at Hicks/Atlantic gets a shout-out from the NYT for its weekend after-hours fusion pizzas such as kofta kebab.

Montero Bar & Grill has officially joined the New York Historic Business Preservation Registry, which “highlights New York businesses that have been in operation for at least 50 years and have contributed to their community’s history.” State Senator Andrew Gounardes and the Atlantic Bid nominated the Atlantic Ave institution.

Determined to get home quickly after the Red Hook Football playoff game last Saturday (they won!), I took the more direct route on my bike across the BQE bridge to Henry Street rather than the more scenic waterfront bike path. The temperatures dropped like mad at the game as soon as the sun set, and I was missing at least a layer or two.

As I landed in Carroll Gardens, I saw what looked like a new antique/vintage storefront in a noncommercial stretch of Henry St. After maybe a 15-second or so internal debate, “Go home, you’re cold! No, check out this cute store!” I was happily inside, Yes, Darling, chatting with the owner, Annette Bruno, and browsing while warming up for my ride home.

This is an edited version of that conversation, plus a follow-up at her cafe, Henry’s Local (570 Henry St), a few days later and text messages.

Quick facts: Annette was born and raised in Sunset Park in a proud Puerto Rican family. She first moved to Carroll Gardens in 2003, with a brief stint in Park Slope. You might know Annette from her neighborhood cafes, Henry’s Local and Cobble Hill’s Fare and Folk, which closed last year after the landlord sold the building.

When did you get into the vintage/antique business?

I’ve been collecting my whole life. I’ve always been drawn to vintage since my 20s. No particular era, just what speaks to me and has a story. It can be an old, rusty piece that sparks conversation and inspiration, and makes people realize old stuff (and people) have value. I try to speak life back into these pieces. I appreciate the vintage and antique in all of us (her 83-year-old mother works alongside her).

I love imagining past lives—perhaps once sitting on someone’s vanity, gracing a dinner table and being part of someone’s everyday rituals.

We’re also such a throwaway society.

About 5-6 years ago, I was running out of places in my apartment, my mom’s, and the basements of my coffee shops to store everything. I started listing items on Facebook Marketplace, and then a few years ago I found the Henry St. space; its bones spoke to me with its tin roof and vintage refrigerator. Just a few weeks ago I started opening for pop-ups. (Note: Yes, Darling will be open on weekends next month)

Tell me about the name, Yes, Darling.

I’ve always thought there is something wonderfully charming about the phrase, “Yes, darling.”  It feels a little vintage, a little glamorous, a little cheeky. It’s sort of the thing you can imagine someone saying with a wink.

I also see it as an invitation, an attitude toward life: embracing beautiful things, in all their forms, serendipitous discoveries, not taking everything too seriously. Life can be heavy, and I hope, Yes, Darling brings a little lightness and fun. 

You grew up in Sunset Park; how did you end up in Carroll Gardens?

It had a spark to it. My partner at the time and I bought the shittiest multi-family house in the neighborhood! But I wanted to breathe life back into it. The realtor showed us a place and said, “To get this idea out of our system!” because it needed a gut renovation, so he tried to talk us out of it. But we believed anything was possible! It was a bigger proposition than we planned. People thought we were crazy. We were eating our shirts! 

The neighborhood is changing, though, with mom-and-pop stores being pushed out. Rents are so high, and it’s losing some of its soul. People crave an experience and want that little intimate shop where you see and know the owner. When you are small, you are so invested; it’s like having a child and watching it grow up. 

You also owned a candy store in Park Slope and a cafe; do you consider yourself an entrepreneur?

I’ve always been a creative and creator type. The 9-to-5 job never fit, and working for someone just doesn’t align with my free spirit. 

I worked as an event planner at the ACLU for eight years, although it was supposed to be a temp job. I moved around from PR to TV to Calvin Klein.

Please check out both Yes, Darling (Henry St/4th)  and Henry’s Local, including Annette’s delicious and fun community pop-up events where she shares her Puerto Rican roots with her Brooklyn neighbors. 

“I’m born here in Brooklyn, but I associate and feel closest to my heritage–the warmth of the people and its culture. The food, music, ambiance, and freshness of it all. I feel like I’m hugged when I go to Puerto Rico,” says Annette.

Tons of community meetings are coming up, and other ways to express yourself. Rather than put this on Mark Your Calendar, I’m mentioning everything here.  

Choose your adventure!

Tuesday, Nov. 17th, 7:00 pm - 9:00 PM | Soil Vapor testing: “Join your neighbors to learn how old industrial pollution may be affecting your indoor air quality. Get tested now! PS372 gym.

Wednesday, Nov. 18th, 6:00 PM- 8:00 PM | The Cobble Hill Association hosts the Brooklyn Marine Terminal’s project team.  “Join the conversation….about the proposed redevelopment plan and its impact on the Cobble Hill and surrounding waterfront communities.”   | Christ Church, 326 Clinton St. Sign-up.

Wednesday, Nov. 18th, 6:30 PM, Community Board 6 full monthly meeting. Van Allen Institute. They’d also like you to fill out its District Needs Survey, which has an approaching deadline. Also available on Zoom. My long-term goal is to encourage CB6 to upgrade its Zoom (see CB2 in Manhattan) and its minutes, since getting to meetings can be challenging.  Members of the public can sign up to speak at the end of the meeting.

Since the Cobble Hill Association is hosting the Brooklyn Marine Terminal project team for the greater community on Wednesday, it’s a good time for me to give you at least a cursory understanding of what happened in Cobble Hill.  

This context is especially important because neighborhood representatives of Red Hook and Carroll Gardens did/do not support the “vision” as is, and the Columbia Street Waterfront, which was denied an official role (long story), also did/does not support it.

I’m giving you an overview of the basic facts and links if you want to go deeper. If you want to talk to me about this, please email me ([email protected]).

Here’s the deal for Tuesday, though it could change between now and then. The Brooklyn Marine Terminal project team will present an overview of where things stand with its waterfront “vision plan,” then hold breakout tables to discuss specific topics. You do not have to be a Cobble Hill resident to attend. Louis Cox, president of CHA, is leading the meeting.

Okay, now the backstory.

There is a lot of anger within the Cobble Hill and surrounding communities that the CHA’s board voted in support of the BMT “vision” for our waterfront. This happened in September 2025, at the end of Eric Adams’ term as a lame-duck mayor.

Before the symbolic vote took place (after five failed attempts to get a 2/3rd majority), countless people, including myself, wrote letters to the CHA’s President, Amanda Nichols, to vote no. In addition, a grassroots petition circulated with 907 people (I’m not sure the final tally) asking CHA to vote NO (source: JMorgan email).  

Cobble Hill: 304

Columbia Street Waterfront District: 281

Carroll Gardens: 115

Red Hook: 90

Other: 117

So what happened? 

In a nutshell, CHA’s Brooklyn Marine Terminal committee (“Waterfront and Infrastructure Committee”) studied the City’s proposed plan and met almost weekly for nearly a year, and recommended that the CHA’s board not support it and vote no (14 total committee members: 8 voted against the plan, 5 abstained (some of these folks were uninvolved), 1-Yes).

The chair of this committee and former CHA president, Amy Breedlove, has prior experience with other Cobble Hill development projects, including the sale of Long Island College Hospital to developers and the critical repairs needed for the BQE. 

Both of these projects are still with us today (the first three stories of an apartment tower can be seen on Atlantic and Hicks, for example) and are still part of CHA’s portfolio. Breedlove’s background is in urban planning and environmental policy.

Breedlove and CHA’s President Amanda Nichols work closely together. Breedlove was her #2 or proxy on the disbanded BMT Task Force, which led the vote, and attended all the meetings in person and on Zoom.  Nichols was also a member of Breedlove’s BMT committee.

Nichols is a board member of BK Org., the BK Children’s Museum and the Red Hook Initiative, and is a former attorney for the City of New York. 

So where do things stand?  

Amy Breedlove’s committee disbanded, and she was not appointed to the BMT Advisory Task Force, which replaced the BMT Task Force after the vote. CHA does not have a new BMT committee, but attends BMT ATF Zooms. 

Amanda Nichols stepped down as CHA’s board president a few years before her term officially ended.

Before the BMT vote, I was unaware of what was happening behind the scenes as I was busy attending BMT meetings. When I showed up at CHA meetings, Nichols communicated with membership about BMT Task Force meetings, discussed important deadlines for public testimony, and explained the facts as presented by the BMT project team.

In May, 2026, Louis Cox, who voted against the “vision” as a board member, replaced Amanda as president. Cox was raised in Cobble Hill, works closely with the Cobble Hill Tree Fund, and is a filmmaker in his spare time.

Amanda is now on the BMT Development Corporation (DC), which will oversee almost everything, primarily contracts and developer leases, and has fiduciary responsibility if/when this “vision” is approved. 

Cong. Dan Goldman, the former Chair of the disbanded Task Force (now called the Advisory Task Force) who drove this “vision” from day #1, recommended Amanda for the DC; arguably a much more powerful appointment than CHA president.

As you know, Goldman lost his re-election. His replacement, congressman-elect Brad Lander, had no official role in the BMT “vision.” However, he’s on the record with a toned-down, more cautious approach to this mega-project than when he led the Gowanus mega-project, which rezoned the Superfund-adjacent area and led to the towerization of the neighborhood. Who knows how his position will change once he’s our congressman. 

That brings me to the most important player in all of this, our new-ish Mayor. He has the power to keep this “vision” moving forward or stop it or promote a bigger vision for our waterfront. 

Mamdani inherited this mess from his predecessor. While the mega-housing development’s appox. 6000K apartments are mostly luxury, the intent is to build 40% below-market units. 

I say intent because people who know financial spreadsheets and budgets way better than I do have said 40% below-market housing is all magical thinking right now. To date, there has been no independent financial analysis.  And we know what happened at Atlantic Yards and even Hudson Yards, whose developers still needed a bailout despite the all-luxury apartment towers. 

Not only is the luxury housing supposed to pay for the 40%, but also to pay for modernizing the Brooklyn Port, a critical infrastructure much like a municipal airport, and we have no solid data that shows the financial projection will work.

What happened at the Cobble Hill Association and what continues today within our communities remains the same: the communities feel unheard and sidelined.  

The community was denied a seat at the table to contribute our local expertise, creativity and vision for the future of our neighborhoods. We had no power to help shape the “plan,” which barrelled forward unnecessarily (Cong. Dan Goldman kept threatening NYC would lose federal funding if we didn’t “vote” in support of this “vision,” which I confirmed is not accurate) without time to both understand what the city was proposing (this ain’t simple, believe me), envision our own futures and offer concrete alternatives (they exist now - here is only one example). 

On top of all this, we witnessed too many levers of our democratic process fail: in our community, the City, the State, and the federal government, given that our former congressman, Dan Goldman, drove much of this redevelopment “plan.” I still remember when he came to a CHA meeting and gave a re-election speech about how this project will prove the Democrats can do BIG things and get BIG things done. 

The Mamdani administration has made some overtures toward better community engagement and more transparency. He also appointed Lina Khan, President Biden’s former FTC commissioner, who took on massive corporations during her tenure, to chair the board of the NYC Economic Development Corporation, which is the mayor’s project lead for the BMT. (The EDC is a whole other story)

But is it too late? Maybe. Maybe not. So much would have to change to build back the trust and create genuine transparency (countless public records requests remain unanswered, emails to the project team, etc..). And we have yet to meet Tascha Van Auklen, head of the Mayor’s Office of Mass Engagement.

In addition, concerns remain about the BMT’s revenue scheme, the priority on dense luxury apartment towers in a flood zone and rezoning essential industrial areas at the expense of a working port and critical NY infrastructure, density, traffic, pollution, lack of public transportation, and how the heck a 122-acre development can happen alongside another mega-project: the BQE.

Which brings me back to Tuesday and why it might be challenging for the community to listen to the project team about a project a large percentage of us don’t support. It’s time to admit this was and is a deeply flawed process and a deeply flawed “plan.” 

Time for a new vision, Mr. Mamdani. 

If all of this juicy infrastructure talk resonates with you, you might enjoy a live 24/7 marathon  reading of Robert Caro’s The Power Broker about the one and only Robert Moses. It’s at Judgy Baby, a magical arts/culture space opening next year that I posted about a few weeks ago.  Livestream here. 400 people have signed up to read. 

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Monday, Nov. 16th |  Cobble Hill Cinemas screens Taxi Driver (1976) with its all-star cast: Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Cybill Shepherd, Harvey Keitel, Peter Boyle, Leonard Harris, Albert Brooks. 

Monday, Nov. 16th, 6:30 PM - 8:30PM | Col. Street Waterfront Association’s first annual meetings. 125 Summit St.

Thursday, Nov. 19th The Cobble Hill Association holds its member meeting. Check the website for details.

Thursday, Nov. 19th, 6:30 PM |  Rue Saint Paul is hosting a Mending Night with Foreign Tongues, “an easy hands-on evening of stitching, patching and chatting.” $

Friday, Nov. 20th, 6:00 -7:30 PM | A discussion about NYC Schools with Pulitzer-prize winner Nikole Hannah-Jones moderated by the education reporter for NY Focus, a non-profit newsroom | 87 Lafayette St. $20

Saturday, Nov. 21 Gobble Gobble 3.1-mile run to raise money for the Dodge YMCA and YMCA of Greater NYC.

Thanks for reading! JLH