Camara Says Time to Move Forward
Crown Heights Assemblyman Karim Camara issued a somewhat cryptic statement via email critical of police officers that turned their back several times on Mayor Bill de Blasio.
City Tells Lawmakers Boardwalk Will Be Concrete
Brooklyn lawmakers and community activists received a thumbs down from Parks Department officials to keep Coney Island’s historic Riegelmann Boardwalk as a wooden promenade, the Daily News Reported.
Instead renovations to the boardwalk are expected to continue changing the boardwalk into a mix of concrete and recycled plastic.
“Given all the options, that’s the best approach going forward,” said Parks Commissioner Mitchel Silver following a contentious two-hour meeting at the Shorefront Y, near the legendary 2.5 mile boardwalk.
City Councilman Mark Treyger was among those who want the city to reconsider and keep the boardwalk as wood.
“Without any independent analysis, I . . . cannot support this,” Treyger said. “We have not done the due diligence that the community deserves.”
Assemblymen Steve Cymbrowitz and Alec Brook-Krasney funded the work through a state allocation in 2009 and the money has to be spent by Jan. 1 or Albany gets the money back.
Brook-Krasny told reporters he was trying to do the right thing in securing the funding and didn’t have knowledge the boardwalk would be turned into concrete with the money.
Cymbrowitz, noting the boardwalk has already been torn up, was more practical.
“I want wood,” he told reporters. “But I also want to the boardwalk to be opened up.”
Adams To Drop 2015 Ball in Coney Island
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams will usher in the New Year with a ball drop tonight at Coney Island’s Steeplechase Pier.
The celebration will begin at 9:00 p.m. featuring a DJ and some of Coney Island’s great sideshow performers. At midnight the New Year will be rung in with a digital countdown display at the iconic Parachute Jump, followed by a fireworks show.
