Day: November 20, 2024

The Brooklyn Daily Eagle editorial staff highlights images from around the world, photos courtesy of the Associated Press.

The post Cartoon Sketchbook: November 20 appeared first on Brooklyn Eagle.

The Brooklyn Daily Eagle editorial staff highlights images from around the world, photos courtesy of the Associated Press.

The post Cartoon Sketchbook: November 20 appeared first on Brooklyn Eagle.

STUDENT HOMELESSNESS affects more than 146,000 kids in the NYC public school system, and Brooklyn has some of the most highly impacted

The post Study: Student homelessness affects over 146,000 kids in public school system appeared first on Brooklyn Eagle.

A DAYCARE AT 715 HENDRIX STREET and New Lots Avenue caught fire around 8 a.m. on Tuesday morning, Patch reports.

The post East New York daycare caught fire Tuesday morning appeared first on Brooklyn Eagle.

A Canarsie man accused of stealing $624,000 from the pensions of two retired New York City employees was arraigned Tuesday on a nine-count indictment, the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office announced.

Gregory Mathieu, 40, appeared before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun on Nov. 19, facing charges that include first-degree corrupting the government, two counts of second-degree grand larceny, two counts of first-degree identity theft, and four counts of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing.

Prosecutors allege Mathieu exploited his position as an Associate Retirement Benefits Examiner with the New York City Employees’ Retirement System (NYCERS) to carry out the thefts between February 2021 and January 2024.

“This defendant is accused of exploiting his trusted position to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from the New York City Employee Retirement System, betraying retirees’ dignity and the public trust,” District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said in Tuesday’s announcement.

“The financial security of more than 350,000 current and former city employees who rely on NYCERS is vital to their well-being and peace of mind. These are our neighbors—people who have dedicated their lives to serving New Yorkers—and we will not tolerate anyone preying on them,” Gonzalez added.

The indictment alleges that Mathieu reactivated the suspended pension account of a deceased Department of Sanitation supervisor, fraudulently collecting $242,000 in retroactive payments and $5,700 in monthly payments between May 2021 and January 2024.

In a separate incident, prosecutors claim Mathieu stole approximately $199,000 from a 75-year-old retired Metropolitan Transportation Authority worker whose account had been suspended due to uncashed pension checks. The alleged theft was discovered in January 2024, when the retiree attempted to reactivate his account.

Jocelyn Strauber, commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation, accused Mathieu of leveraging his 15 years of experience with NYCERS to bypass internal controls and divert pension funds.

As a result of the joint investigation with the DA’s office, the DOI chief said the agency will be making recommendations to strengthen NYCERS’ systems, including increased oversight of changes to pensioners’ account information.

Mathieu, currently suspended with pay, is scheduled to return to court on Feb. 5. His lawyers did not respond to Brooklyn Paper’s request for comment by press time. 

There’s no MetroCard necessary to visit these subterranean watering holes.

Brooklynites will soon be able to reach new heights in Sunset Park.

A 15,0000-square-foot HAPIK climbing gym is set to open at Industry City on Nov. 23, with dozens of climbing walls, rope courses, and more.

“We are so excited to bring the wonderful world of HAPIK to Industry City,” said HAPIK president Antoine Richard, in a statement. “With this location, we saw an opportunity for HAPIK to serve as a ground for educational experiences that help build self-confidence, team bonding, and celebration amongst friends and family. This location will take New York City to new heights – literally – and we can’t wait for Brooklyn to get to know us.”

The gym features 50 climbing walls up to 24 feet high, with more than 150 different routes to attempt. There are also two ropes courses of varying difficulty, and “vertical challenges” inspired by the likes of “American Ninja Warrior.” 

Climbing gyms are incredibly popular in New York City, each with their own niche — Bouldering Project Brooklyn, as its name suggests, is bouldering-only – climbing without ropes. Movement Gowanus offers bouldering, regular climbing, and other fitness classes. 

At HAPIK, the focus is providing a doorway into the world of climbing for visitors of all ages and skill levels. Each wall is equipped with an auto belay – a device that allows visitors to climb safely without a human belayer at the end of the rope. If climbers fall, or reach the top, they will be safely and slowly lowered to the ground.

In addition to the walls, ropes courses, and vertical challenges, the Industry City gym will have a soft play area, a playground-esque structure with plenty of soft, kid-friendly equipment for play and climbing. 

“HAPIK is everything we are about at Industry City, from their ability to transport people to unforgettable experiences where bonds are built, and in their commitment to create a space where climbers of all ages can tap into their inner adventure-seekers,” said Industry City managing director Jim Somoza. “This announcement demonstrates our commitment to providing unique and engaging entertainment and experiences for our tenants and community members, and we look forward to the endless memories to be made at HAPIK in Industry City.” 

HAPIK at Industry City will celebrate its grand opening on Nov. 23, with $25 tickets and free food and drinks. After that, individual climbing passes will be available for $34.90, and soft play passes for $23.90. Plus, HAPIK welcomes birthday parties, corporate events, field trips, and school group visits.