Hey Neighbors - 

Sorry, I’m a little late publishing today. In the short span of time since I launched Ward6, I already have amnesia, as every Wednesday I forget how long it takes me to compile everything I’ve gathered during the week, organize it (sort of) and sit down to write. I will become faster, more efficient, and maybe realistic about what I can accomplish on my own each week. 

I worked out a few design/tech glitches last week with someone who graciously donated her time. Ward 6 still needs a design worthy of a Brooklyn newsletter! 

If you wish to subscribe to WARD6 while also supporting community journalism, I have now set up a way to do so. As our friends at Hell Gate often tell their readers, a monthly subscription is cheaper than a fancy coffee drink. My plan is to keep WARD6 a free newsletter, but if you'd like to contribute, please feel free to do so.  In advance, thank you! 

Sadly, nothing more from the actor / Gen X cover band singer I’ve been pursuing for WARD6’s first exclusive interview. I really thought I had him last week. In preparation, I did figure out how to use my mics and recording devices, though, which will come in handy one of these days.

Thank you to the Cobble Hill Association for an update on the new bike lanes on Court St. (details here). We can all agree that last week was a bit chaotic for drivers, walkers and riders. 

“It’s been garbage so far, as people almost try with the temporary markings,” said a friend and Carroll Gardens Ward6 reader. “ It was dumb as plumb. Delivery trucks all over the place. Ubers blocked the road.” Well said. 

Full disclosure, I have never owned a car in NYC,  and I only use my bike for errands. I have never liked riding on Court St. and usually avoid it by cutting over to Henry or Hoyt to go south and then back to Court to wherever I need to go. With the new bike lane, I will definitely ride my bike more and when I drive a rental car, I’ll probably join the rest of you and curse my way down Court until I get used to the new configuration. 

Another bike lane issue was brought to my attention this week from a Carroll Gardens’ W6 reader who told me the Union St. bikes lanes popular for commuting two and from Gowanus and Park Slope, disappeared seemingly overnight. I’ll see what I can find out or if you know what’s happening, please email me [email protected] or DM @ward6_brooklyn.

One sure way to unite Ward 6 neighbors is with brain-penetrating noise of an endless flock of large metal birds flying overhead on a weekend morning and throughout our day, all day for 48 hours. Wow. 

It was a perfect storm of helicopter traffic from the UN General Assembly, the annual Tunnel to Towers 5K (on Sunday), in addition to “the largest civilian helicopter activation in history,” according to one of the private companies involved in shepherding thousands of people to Bethpage, Long Island, for the Ryder Cup. They paid more than $1K for a one-way, 12-minute flight.

At times like these, I see the value of Nextdoor. The ability to crowdsource an unexpected event like this while bonding with neighbors, as together, we figure out what the heck is going on. Most of the time, Nextdoor’s algorithm loves to send me crime posts that are 99% out of whack with actual crime stats in our neighborhoods. 

Frustration, tinged with anger, was a common thread on Nextdoor.  “It’s been driving me insane!” said a Crown Heights neighbor. From Cobble Hill, “So obnoxious!” and this cool app from Lisa, also in Cobble Hill, that I had vaguely known about, but had never used myself. 

“I’ve been keeping an eye on Flightradar24 - yes, mostly private helicopters or Blade Helicopters leaving Farmingdale. But even before then - this summer was replete with helicopters flying below 1000ft over residential Brooklyn.”

Like the rest of you, I complained a lot last weekend. At the top of my list is– why didn’t we get a heads-up that this was happening? As far as I could report, none of our local elected officials were notified.  

The Ryder Cup organizers and the NYC Economic Development Corporation (yes, the same city entity behind the controversial 122-acre Brooklyn waterfront development project), responsible for the helicopter armada, have been planning this entertainment and economic juggernaut for a long time—another reason why I’m flabbergasted that it had to come as a surprise to us in Ward6.  

According to VP, Creative Operations for Blade @flyblade, the company with exclusive helicopter rights for the tournament, it took “two years of preparation.”  If you want to read his entire IG post, he goes on to thank his team for “pulling it off - more than three thousand people flown between NYC or the Hamptons to the long fields of Bethpage State Park (landing directly on the golf course!) several hundred flights…” Altogether, there were 20 helicopter landing zones, said Erik Matuszewski, a Golf Contributor for Forbes.

So if Blade had two years to prepare, why didn’t the company or the Mayor’s office alert the communities impacted by the constant noise, at times, a helicopter flying overhead every 30 seconds?

Blade wasn’t the only company ferrying passengers to Long Island. Zip Aviation was also a buzz with its ”historic” weekend.  “...a record-breaking helicopter operation …” with “more than 300 flights carrying over 2,000 passengers, marking an historic milestone in both scale and precision for the aviation industry.” 

It’s not too late to complain! If we don’t, what will stop them from doing this again and again and again. We need a record of complaints.

Complaint information from 311 says to start with the EDC:

*I tried to talk with someone at the EDC, but alas, I only got an email confirmation when I asked if anyone received my email. I will continue to nudge them. 

I met part of the team behind the South-Asian inspired Bolo Bolo Cafe and Bakery that took over Joy’s location on Court Street. Isha (above) told me there will be a soft opening tomorrow, Sunday. For everyone who loved Joy, a sign in the window last week said the owners are opening a Turkish restaurant in Dumbo. 

Voters! Yes, you! The last day to apply online for an absentee ballot is OCTOBER 25th for the mayoral election and three housing amendments (and more!). Unless you have time to register in person, which has a later deadline. Thank you to a Carroll Gardens W6 reader who reminded me to include this critical date in this week's newsletter, given how many people travel for work or have a kid in college out of state. Given the enthusiasm for the primary, I bet this will be an exciting election.

I don’t remember October being this busy before. Maybe because the season at 60 Minutes starts at the end of September and I couldn’t think about anything until the December holidays.

Oct 5: 481 Fire Fundraiser, The Good Fork Pub, RH @ 3P 391 V Brunt

Oct 6:  CB6 full community board - Agenda (CHA); Sunny’s bar fire fundraiser @ 8P

Oct 7 7-9P Young Men’s Choir from Norway! Red Hook fundraiser to support more than 100 tenants from the Beard St fire. From the host, PortsideNY: “Norweigans were a big part of Red Hook community in the past. There were also a major presence as crew on workboats in the harbor, including our Mary Whalen (see pick below). They sing mainly Black American spirituals as those have become typical church music in Norway. Pay what you want.

Oct. 8:  Saturn Road - Pottery Workshop “Design your own spooky ghost tea light.” $$ (calendar of events)

Oct 9:  Flu shots at NYU Cobble Hill, thanks to elected Jo Anne Simon/Gounardes Sign up here. (CHA)  ***Downtown Rx Pharmacy has Covid shots available for people 12 and up @ 180 Atlantic Ave.

Oct 14: Voices of the Waterfront Zoom tutorial:

Oct 22:  BK Public Library Fall Benefit: Liz’s Book Bar in conversation with Phoebe Robinson! $$ BK Heights

Oct 28:  Brooklyn Marine Terminal Meeting (see CHA, Voices of the Waterfront, PortsideNY for more information)

Oct 28: BK Public Library: “Unbearable: Five Women and the Perils of Pregnancy in American” in conversation with Rebecca Traister. 6P BK Heights

Oct. 29th Brooklyn Marine Terminal (virtual) - same as above

THE BROOKLYN WATERFRONT DEBATE CONTINUES: You can still get involved and voice your support/concerns about the waterfront development project. As the coalition of community groups continue to remind me, the outcome is still to be determined, especially given the mayoral election in a few months.

Cobble Hill Association; Voices of the Waterfront: sign up for important date reminders; PortsideNY; Resilient Red Hook

A Ruth Bader Ginsburg Monument Is Officially Coming to Brooklyn Bridge Park" (Curbed)