Day: August 30, 2024

This summer was one of the safest in recent history in terms of gun violence and gun-related deaths, according to data released Friday by Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez’s office.

The months of June, July, and August are typically marked by high numbers of shootings and gun-related deaths, but this year, Brooklyn reached its lowest levels, Gonzalez said.

The borough recorded 13 gun-related homicides this summer — a 24% decrease from 2023 — and 84 shootings, down 11%. And while the number of shooting victims increased by three, it marks the second-lowest total in that category after last summer.

“The summer months are traditionally the time when gun violence spikes, which is the reason the NYPD and my office focus extra resources and efforts during that period,” Gonzalez said in a statement. “It is gratifying that, after a particularly safe summer in 2023, we reached even more historic lows this year.”

These numbers reflect the lowest recorded stats since data has been collected, according to the DA’s office, and represent a 74% decline compared to the summer of 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic, civil unrest and a spike in violence occurred concurrently.

Shooting deaths also reached the lowest level ever recorded with 13 — a 79% decline compared to 2020.

“While more needs to be done, public safety in Brooklyn continues to improve and our multi-pronged approach in fighting gun crimes – which includes gang takedowns, investments in our Digital Evidence Lab, precision prosecutions, and community-based initiatives – is working,” Gonzalez said. 

Jibreel Jalloh, the founder of The Flossy Organization, a cure-violence organization in Canarsie, called the DA’s report “promising.”

“While this decline is a strong step forward, we must remain focused on our ultimate goal: ending gun violence,” Jalloh told Brooklyn Paper. “The 13 lives lost are 13 too many.”

The DA’s office attributed the violence reduction in part to successful Supreme Court convictions, gang takedowns and gun buy-back events.

Jalloh said the city could see an even greater decline with the increased investment in cure-groups and programs, such as Flossy, Man Up and Save Our Streets (S.O.S.). Following the pandemic, the city expanded the work of crisis management centers with the growth of violence interrupters and mentors who mediate potentially violent situations and work towards peaceful solutions. 

“The city has a list of evidence-proven methods to stop shootings,” Jalloh said. “We just need government leaders that have the courage to invest in those programs fully.”

These initiatives, however, are not a cure-all. 

Despite organizational efforts, the number of borough-wide shooting victims — 104 — rose slightly, up 2.9% compared to the same time last year. Still, that number was the lowest on record for a summer of gun violence recorded by the DA’s office.

Community advocates have argued a lack of adequate resources feeds the growth of violence. They believe the city can absolve itself of violence by closing wage, health and education gaps.

“We need deeper investments that strike at the root causes of violence—lack of opportunity, poverty, unemployment, and poor education,” Jalloh told Brooklyn Paper. “Let’s honor the memory [of those who’ve died to gun violence] and families by committing to the necessary investments today so we can build on this progress tomorrow.”

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The MTA has put out various service changes on its subway, bus, and commuter rail lines set to take place this Labor Day Weekend.

Subway trains and buses are set to run on a regular weekend schedule, and on Labor Day will run on a Sunday schedule. That means there will be no B, W, or Z trains, nor express trains on the 6 or 7 lines or the F in Brooklyn.

There is no 2 train service all weekend between 3rd Avenue-149th Street and 96th Street, though it’ll return on Labor Day itself. The MTA is undertaking track replacement on the line. Free shuttle buses will run between those two stops, with both local and express options.

The 5 train, which largely shares its route with the 2 in the Bronx, will run in two sections: between Eastchester-Dyre Avenue and East 180th Street, and between 149th Street-Grand Concourse and Bowling Green.

The 3 train will be suspended entirely over the weekend. Free shuttle buses will run between Harlem-148th Street and 96th Street, where riders can catch the 2, and the 4 express will run on the 3 local line in Brooklyn south of Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center towards New Lots Avenue.

2 and 3 trains will skip Eastern Parkway-Brooklyn Museum on Labor Day in both directions; that’s the ending point for the West Indian Day Parade. Meanwhile, A trains will operate local all weekend between 59th Street and West 4th Street, and A and C trains will take the F line between West 4th Street and Jay Street-MetroTech.

The Long Island Rail Road will run on a Saturday schedule on Sunday. The railroad will run additional trains on the Montauk Branch for vacationers to and from the Hamptons on Labor Day.

On Metro-North, the agency will run extra “early getaway” trains on the New Haven, Harlem, and Hudson Lines on Friday, aiming to get New Yorkers out of the hustle-and-bustle and towards bucolic country early for the holiday weekend.

BETTER USE BUG REPELLANT, Gov. Kathy Hochul advised New York residents and visitors Friday in a video posted to Instagram.

The post Explosion rips through home in East Flatbush appeared first on Brooklyn Eagle.

Friday, Aug. 30

Friday Night Fireworks in Coney Island: There’s no better way to see summer off than with the last free fireworks show of the summer in Coney Island! Enjoy the food, games, and rides on the boardwalk, then head over to enjoy the spectacle with your loved ones and neighbors.

Free. 9:45-10:15 p.m. Coney Island Boardwalk at West 12th Street in Coney Island. 

Saturday, Aug. 31

Junior Carnival: Little ones are invited to celebrate Carnival with a parade and other festivities at the Brooklyn Museum! Assemble at Kingston Avenue and St. John’s Place for the fun and musical parade, which will end at the Brooklyn Museum for an afternoon of live music, a back-to-school giveaway, and even the crowning of a Junior King and Queen. 

$12.04. 9 a.m-3 p.m. Parade begins at the corner of Kingston Avenue and St. John’s Place in Crown Heights, celebration continues at the Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Parkway between Washington and Flatbush avenues in Prospect Heights.

Summer Fest at Japan Village: The annual Summer Fest is back and better than ever at Japan Village! Head to Industry City to enjoy free live performances by dancers and other performers, shop for goodies, and sample some delicious Japanese-inspired treats. There will also be plenty of free swag available plus the chance to play to win a free trip to Japan!

Free to attend. 2-6 p.m. Japan Village at Industry City, 934 3rd Ave. between 35th and 36th streets in Sunset Park. 

“The Fish Queen of the Gowanus Canal”: This whacky, all-original musical covers the full history of the Gowanus Canal in songs — all performed by the Fish Queen herself, an “extremophile” creature who carries the memories of everyone whose waste she has ever encountered in the Canal. You’ll laugh, learn, and maybe even cry!

$45. 7 p.m. Gowanus Dredgers Bunker, 2 19th St. near the Gowanus Canal in Gowanus.

Sunday, Sept. 1

Childrens’ Fall Festival at Green Meadows Farm: Labor Day Weekend marks the unofficial end of summer, and Green Meadows Farm is ready to start the fall! The celebration will include tons of kid-friendly entertainment, including pony rides, bouncy houses, a hayride, and the huge Green Meadows Farm Playground! Animal-lovers can also meet bunnies and farm animals, and there are plenty of picnic tables available to relax and eat at.

$14. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Green Meadows Farm, 3159 Flatbush Ave. off the Belt Parkway in Marine Park. 

Birding in Peace at Green-Wood Cemetery: Looking to get outside as the weather cools and enjoy some peace on the busy holiday weekend? Head to Green-Wood Cemetery, where birding expert Rob Jett will lead a quiet early-morning walk through the graveyard and help you discover the many birds that call it home. Fall migration has just begun, so you’re likely to see some rarer species passing through as they head south for the winter as well as the ever-present species you know and love!

$20. 6:30-8 a.m. Green-Wood Cemetery, 500 25th St. at Fifth Avenue in Sunset Park. 

• In Manhattan
• In Queens
• In The Bronx
• In the Hamptons

A PAIR OF DRUG DEALERS WHO SMUGGLED COCAINE AND MDMA from Brooklyn to the Hamptons in Suffolk County were caught by police.

The post Protect yourself against increasing number of infected mosquitoes, Hochul warns appeared first on Brooklyn Eagle.