Situation Out of Control – 8th Avenue & 55th St.

Picture from Video Below

Chaos erupted on 8th Avenue and 55th Street in Brooklyn.

When the NYPD and sanitation workers were clearing illegal street vendors and stores that had taken over too much of the sidewalk, people started stealing from the store while police officers were present.

Watch the video:

Video: Ying Tan

This situation should never have been allowed to get to this level.

86th Street in Bensonhurst also has a vendor situation that is out of control.

The people seemed to laugh, as the police tried to stopped them from stealing. These grandmothers and grandfathers are not afraid of the police.

Yesterday. Assemblyman Lester Chang wrote on Facebook that he was going to protest the crackdown on the vendors on 8th Avenue and 54th Street:

Some of the politicians representing the area seem sympathetic to the illegal vendors, but they need to come up with a plan where these vendors can sell items that doesn’t interfere with the businesses on the Avenue. If the vendors chip in $20 and rent a private school schoolyard, gymnasium or church basement on a Saturday morning, that may help.

Update: Assemblyman Chang wrote that shopkeepers were unable to recover confiscated goods. They were not given a written summons or any instructions by agents. Assemblyman Chang wrote that there was no due process. He wrote that he will set up a community meeting with the Department of Sanitation.

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Boozy BINGO on Saturday in Bay Ridge

On Saturday, April 19th, there will be Boozy BINGO at The Bean Post at 7525 5th Avenue starting at 2:00 pm.

See more events in Bay Ridge this weekend:

See Easter Events in Bay Ridge:

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Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce’s Sponsored Event, But You Also Have to Pay

When you are traveling, you visit the Chamber of Commerce to get information about local events in the area. These offices are usually incredible about helping tourists.

When people come to Brooklyn, they don’t get that from the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. Strangely, their website has nothing for tourists, who will be visiting Brooklyn: https://www.brooklynchamber.com

The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce admitted there was a spike in business closures in Brooklyn (especially restaurants). Why haven’t they done anything to help small businesses in Bay Ridge?

On April 24th, the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce is having an Economic Development Breakfast at Gargiulo’s to discuss inflation and tariffs.

The attendees have to pay $45 for the breakfast, even though the event was sponsored by The Coney (Casino) and several other businesses (some which are presenting at this event).

I think the Brooklyn Chamber of commerce needs a revamping. Two days ago they shared a post on X (formerly Twitter) and only 31 people engaged with it.

In February, they did a survey about 2024 and only 45 people engaged with it. How are they helping businesses in Brooklyn if hardly anyone is seeing their social media posts?

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The Whole Brannan Family is Being Honored on April 28th at The Bay Ridge Manor

Alfadila Community Services is having a fundraiser on April 27th. Why is Alfadila honoring Councilman Justin Brannan, his wife and mother? You can read about it here:

https://alfadilacs.org/disability-fundraising-gala

I don’t recall them honoring Brannan before, so what’s different?

Why would they honor a politician, when there is so much corruption and silence in our community?

In 2024, Alfadila Community Services received $15,000 from NYC Council.

In 2025, Alfadila Community Services received $30,000 from NYC Council:

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Three People Climbed Into the Sewer on 17th Avenue and 82nd Street in Bensonhurst

Yesterday around 5:30 pm, there was a lot of police cars on 17th Avenue and 82nd Street.

Someone shared on social media that men removed a sewer cap and climbed down. I thought they were being facetious. They were telling the truth.

The news reported that several people entered the sewer and one guy stayed behind and closed the sewer cap. (Source: https://is.gd/wgTKfA) The police took that man in custody first.

Channel News showed video tonight:

The police have two more of the men in custody (for a total of three) and are searching for two other people. (Source: https://is.gd/znYWCb)

Update: “The suspects have been identified as 25-year-old Zion McKenzie, 26-year-old Shawan Thompson and 39-year-old Willie Green. They face burglary, possession of a burglary tool, criminal mischief and criminal facilitation charges.” Source: https://is.gd/yqVgfj

The article stated: Right now, investigators are still trying to figure out who went down there and why. Can someone get to someone’s basement through the sewer and rob their home?

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Why is the Brooklyn Conservative Party Playing Around with Elections?

Susan Zhuang and Bill Colton must be drinking champagne and laughing tonight. The Brooklyn Conservative Party is putting Susan Zhuang on the Conservative Party line on the ballot.

There is something strange here. Nick Badolato went to the trouble of signing up to run against Susan and getting the required signatures for the petitions. Then he refused the Conservative Party line on the ballot. (See story: https://is.gd/NWGvpn)

It sounds like the Conservative Party was trying to stop someone else from running on their line.

This isn’t the first time the Conservative Party used a placeholder candidate in an election. Read about a well-known backroom deal in our elections: https://is.gd/bjWz3C

I like Councilwoman Zhuang – she is a good representative and she is present to the community. But election time is the time when things get done because the incumbent and the challenger discuss the largest community problems.

For the 43rd Council district, the first issue is dirty streets. People post pictures of bulk garbage on street corners and papers/food scraps on the street (especially 86th Street). While the Councilwoman has a cleaning company come once in awhile, the dirty streets return fast.

Yes, this is the 43rd District this year

The second issue would be mental health or crime. We just saw the horrific story of a father/uncle cut his daughter and nieces with a knife. People who need help aren’t getting help, possibly because of language barriers. Robberies would be third.

Now that Susan Zhuang is running unopposed, those discussions about the community won’t happen. The Conservative Party eliminated the debates and new ideas for this district. They don’t live in District 43, so they don’t care!

Placeholder candidate eliminates democracy. The Conservative Party may have blocked someone who was actually interested in running for office and wanting to help people. Those people are rare and the party should be embracing those people to run for other offices.

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Brooklynites Are Having a Reunion in October

There is going to be a neighborhood reunion at Sirico’s Catering Hall at 8023 – 13th Avenue on Saturday, October 25, 2025 from 1:00 – 5:00 PM.

Pauline Doll Castagna Pc122563@aol.com

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Fire on 3rd Avenue and 79th Street in Bay Ridge

Mike R. shared the video (below) of a fire happening 7824 – 3rd Avenue in Bay Ridge. A fire in the ceiling of the laundromat that started just after 4:00 pm.

The firefighters knocked down the ceiling and two hoses put out the fire in the ceiling. Thankfully, no one was hurt. But the laundromat is badly damaged.

After the fire, Mike R. shared this photo:

Hopefully, this owner will be able to get the place cleaned up, checked out and opened soon. A lot of people rely on this laundromat.

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The Relics of Carlo Acutis Are Coming to St. Patrick’s Church in Bay Ridge – April 27th

Pope Francis beatified Carlo Acutis in 2020 (declared him blessed) and then he canonized Carlo Acutis in July 2024 – meaning Carlo Acutis was classified as a Saint.

Carlos Acutis died of leukemia in 2006. He was 15-years-old. He was known for living a spiritual life devoted to God.

The Catholic Church attributes two miracles to St. Carlo Acutis. The first miracle was when Matheus Viannaa, a 4-year-old child with a rare pancreatic disease touched a relic of Carlo Acutis and was healed. 

The second miracle was the recovery of Valeria Valverde, a young woman in Costa Rica, who had a serious head injury and was healed after her mother prayed for her by Acutis’ tomb.

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BMW SUV Stolen in Dyker Heights

A black BMW X3 with light beige leather interior and a blue pillow with dinosaurs on the back seat was taken. It was parked near the cemetery.

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Bay Ridge Pizza War Will Be Held on May 4, 2025

If you look at Bay Ridge on social media, you will see all of the Bay Ridge Pizzeria owners challenging each other to make the best Star Wars Pizza.

On Sunday, May 4, 2025 from 12:00 to 3:00 pm, they are having a Pizza War. Get tickets here: https://is.gd/RnRV0Y

Joe from Nonno’s Pizzeria 8816 – 3rd Avenue

First Joe from Nonno’s Pizzeria at 8816 – 3rd Avenue has a Darth Vader Pizza. He challenged The Brooklyn Firefly to make a better pizza.

Side note: Nonno’s is Lee’s favorite pizzeria in Bay Ridge because Nonno’s delivers a hot pizza fast and they have the best sausage roll.

Blaze from The Brooklyn Firefly at 7003 3rd Ave

Above is Blaze from The Brooklyn Firefly and Mr. Kaves responded to the Pizza War with an artichoke Luke Skywalker pizza. #Amazing

See their video: https://is.gd/UIpOfc Firefly challenged Pizza Wagon.

Frank from Mancini’s Pizzeria at 8504 – 5th Avenue

Above is Frank from Mancini’s Pizzeria at 8504 5th Avenue with a Baby Yoda pizza. Frank challenged Peppino’s to get in on this action.

Joe from Peppino’s at 7708 – 3rd Avenue

Joe from Peppino’s made Chewbacca on the pizza because his son loved Chewbacca since he was little (and they have dog named Chewy). Joe challenged the Bay Ridge Pizzeria

Gasper from Bay Ridge Pizzeria at 7704 – 5th Avenue

Gasper from Bay Ridge Pizzeria at 7704 – 5th Avenue made the Starbird (symbol of the Rebel Alliance) out of pepperoni. Gasper challenged Elegante Pizzeria.

This is going to be a great event! Dress up as your favorite Star Wars character and get your tickets for the Bay Ridge Pizza Wars on May 4, 2025:

Follow the Bay Ridge 3rd Avenue Merchants on Instagram to see all of the fun challenge videos –> https://www.instagram.com/merchantsof3rdave

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Notice the Cherry Blossom Trees in Bay Ridge

Photo: Maguire Realty

Everyone is taking pictures of the beautiful cherry blossom trees around Bay Ridge. Take time to notice them before they are gone.

Beautiful Bay Ridge on Instagram shared the house with a tree in bloom.

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