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arts and culture, Civics and Urban Life, Tom Martinez, Witness

Tom Martinez, Witness: Stop Deportation of Jean Montrevil

From the New Sanctuary Coalition press release:

At a rally attended by over a hundred people outside the Varick Street Immigrant Detention Center, eight clergy and two community leaders were arrested after stopping traffic for a half hour to prevent vans transporting new immigrant detainees to the center.  The participants called for the release of detained immigrant rights leader, and father of four US-born children, Jean Montrevil. They also demanded reform of draconian immigration laws separation of families.

The Rev. Donna Schaper of Judson Memorial Church, where Montrevil’s family worships, stated: “I am being arrested because it is a moral outrage that our government would do this to such a great man and father. These immigration laws that destroy families contradict the values we should uphold as a society. They need to change now.”

Montrevil entered the U.S. from Haiti in 1986 as a legal permanent resident. Homeland Security is trying to de-legalize him for a 1989 drug conviction, for which Montrevil already served 11 years. He has kept a clean record ever since. Detained on December 30th during a routine check-in, Montrevil is now held in Pennsylvania’s York County Prison, where he has begun a hunger strike. “I am fasting side-by-side with nearly 60 others to take a stand against this horrific deportation and detention system that is tearing families apart,” he explains.

“Our son keeps calling Jean’s cell phone, hoping daddy will pick up. He asks me, ‘Why are they pretending daddy is bad, so he will go back to Haiti?’” says Mrs. Montrevil. “Jean made mistakes before we started building a family together. Homeland Security wants to turn me into a single mother.”Jean’s 6-year-old son Jahsiah also suffers from severe asthma, which has been aggravated since his father’s detention.

A community leader, Montrevil became a national spokesperson for the Child Citizen Protection Act (H.R. 182), a House proposal that would bring due process into the deportation system by allowing immigration judges to consider the best interests of American children before deporting a parent. The proposal is part of Representative Luis Gutierrez’s recently introduced bill, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America’s Security and Prosperity Act (H.R. 4321).

“Jean Montrevil’s case is precisely why we need to see the provisions of the Child Citizen Protection Act passed into law–ideally as part of comprehensive immigration reform. We cannot continue to allow inflexible deportation guidelines to separate families with U.S. citizen children,” said Congressman José E. Serrano. “I commend all those fighting on Jean’s behalf, and look forward to a successful resolution of this sad case, and a day when there is more humaneness in our nation’s immigration laws.”

Montrevil has received support from many elected officials along with Serrano author of H.R. 182, including U.S. Representatives Jerrold Nadler, Nydia Velasquez, (all three are cosponsors of H.R. 4321); NY State Assemblywoman Deborah Glick; and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer.

In a letter supporting Montrevil’s request to ICE for deferred action, Rep. Velazquez writes, “My office believes that his deportation will be a disproportionate punishment to him, his family, and his community.”

At the rally, Dan Zanes performed songs dedicated to the movement to keep immigrant families together, while political leaders including NY City Council Member Rosie Mendez, NY State Senator Thomas K. Duane, and a representative from U.S Representative Jose Serrano expressed their support.

Uncategorized

Census Cautiously

The following is from the Better Business Bureau which wants to help people learn how to tell the difference between a U.S. Census worker and a con artist

For years, the Better Business Bureau has educated consumers about not giving out personal information over the telephone or to anyone who shows up at their front door.  With the U.S. Census process beginning, BBB advises people to be cooperative, but cautious, so as not to become a victim of fraud or identity theft.

The first phase of the 2010 U.S. Census is under way as workers have begun verifying the addresses of households across the country.  Eventually, more than 140,000 U.S. Census workers will count every person in the United States and will gather information about every person living at each address including name, age, gender, race and other relevant data.

“Most people are rightfully cautious and won’t give out personal information to unsolicited phone callers or visitors, however the Census is an exception to the rule,” said Steve Cox, BBB spokesperson.

“Unfortunately, scammers know that the public is more willing to share personal data when taking part in the Census and they have an opportunity to ply their trade by posing as a government employee and soliciting sensitive financial information.”

The Census data will be used to allocate more than $300 billion in federal funds every year, as well as determine a State’s number of Congressional representatives. Households are actually required by law to respond to the Census Bureau’s request for information.

During the U.S. Census, households will be contacted by mail, telephone or visited by a U.S. Census worker who will inquire about the number of people living in the house. Unfortunately, people may also be contacted by scammers who are impersonating Census workers in order to gain access to sensitive financial information such as Social Security, bank account or credit card numbers. Law enforcement in several states have issued warnings that scammers are already posing as Census Bureau employees and knocking on doors asking for donations and Social Security numbers.

The big question is – how do you tell the difference between a U.S. Census worker and a con artist? BBB offers the following advice:

• If a U.S. Census worker knocks on your door, they will have a badge, a handheld device, a Census Bureau canvas bag and a confidentiality notice. Ask to see their identification and their badge before answering their questions.  However, you should never invite anyone you don’t know into your home.

• Census workers are currently only knocking on doors to verify address information. Do not give your Social Security number, credit card or banking information to anyone, even if they claim they need it for the U.S. Census.  While the Census Bureau might ask for basic financial information, such as a salary range, it will not ask for Social Security, bank account or credit card numbers nor will employees solicit donations.

• Eventually, Census workers may contact you by telephone, mail or in person at home.  However, they will not contact you by e-mail, so be on the look out for e-mail scams impersonating the Census. Never click on a link or open any attachments in an e-mail that are supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau.

For more advice on avoiding identity theft and fraud, visit www.bbb.org

Civics and Urban Life

Gowanus Lounge Returns

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Yesterday blogger Eliot Wagner emailed me with this news about the blog Gowanus Lounge, the late great blog run by the late great Robert Guskind.

I just got a tweet from “Gowanus Lounge.”  It used to belong to whoever was keeping the GL archives.  But I followed the link in the tweet and there is a new Gowanus Lounge blog, with a new logo, at www.gowanuslounge.com without any of Bob Guskin’s old blog there.  A check of WHOIS merely shows the hosting company.

Later in the day, Wagner figured out what was going on with the help of Ben Musessig of Gothamist:

Less than a year after the death of blogger Bob Guskind, someone has apparently acquired his acclaimed Gowanus Lounge website and changed its focus. Sources close to the deal told Gothamist that Guskind’s wife was approached by a company interested in paying $7,500 to purchase the domain where the journalist once detailed Brooklyn development and neighborhood minutia…

Turns out that Miss Heather of NY Shitty is the person who now owns Gowanus Lounge. The following is a post from NY Shitty about the sale of Gowanus Lounge to a new owner. I was mistaken. The new owner is not Miss Heather of NY Shitty. Sorry for the mistake.

I have a creeping suspicion who the aforementioned “source” is. It is none other than yours truly. It is in the interest of staving off even more speculation that I am writing this post. Last December my husband, who is the admin for the Gowanus Lounge, was contacted by a gentleman who was interested in purchasing the site: url, content, everything. My husband forwarded this offer to Bob’s widow, Olivia, as it is her property.

After much discussion, soliciting of advice and tough choices a compromise was reached: the url would be sold, but Bob’s work would be migrated to a different site: www.bobguskind.com. This has been done. I will not disclose what was paid for the Gowanus Lounge’s url. This is because it nobody’s business but Olivia’s and the purchaser’s. I will point out, however, that Olivia offered my husband and I a portion of the proceeds as way of saying “thanks”. We turned it down. As far as we are concerned it was the least we could do for a good friend. I hope this clears up any confusion. — Miss Heather

Uncategorized

Ribbon Cutting at New Atlantic LIRR Station

Six years in the making, the  the Long Island Rail Road’s new Atlantic Terminal Pavilion opened on Tuesday with many politicians on hand.

At a cost of $108 million, the three-story limestone, granite and glass structure at Flatbush Avenue and Hanson Place has a  customer waiting area, ticket offices and restrooms.

It’s like a real train station. Wow.

The Atlantic  LIRR station connects to five bus lines and 10 subway lines – the B, D, M, N, Q, R, 2, 3, 4 and 5 trains. It is estimated that 57,000 commuters come through the station daily.

You can even take the train to Montauk from there if you are so inclined .

The name will be changed to Atlantic Terminal in March.  This video is a promotional video produced by the MTA.

Uncategorized

Greetings From Scott Turner: Ignoring What Hurts People

Here’s the first missive of the New Year from writer/designer Scott Turner, who, among other things, runs the Thursday pub quiz at Rocky Sullivan’s in Red Hook. This post is, as always, brought to you by Miss Wit, the t-shirt queen of Red Hook.

Greetings Pub Quiz Bundle-Uppers…

Is it cold?  Or is it just Winter?

The Daily News had a scintillating story this morning…page 2, where stories of great import appear.

“N.Y. cold snap to rival horror winters of ’70s” was the real eye catcher.  Forget for a second that it reads like a 1950s B-movie sci-fi headline (“Martians to destroy humanity”).  The News must have sensed that underwear-bombers just weren’t scary enough.

It’s bad enough to add every Yemeni to the No Like List.  Another entirely to add the weather.

The article delves into the meteorological community’s (meaning two guys from Accu-Weather quoted in the News‘ piece) belief that this will be a Day After Tomorrow winter.

http://www.thegreatilluminator.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/day-after-tomorrow-cold.jpghttp://thecia.com.au/reviews/d/images/day-after-tomorrow-11.jpg
The Daily News and Accu-Weather’s prediction for the next two months — and New Yorkers’ reactions

Big storms heading from the Plains states (those frakkin’ Nebraskans!), Arctic air swooping down from the North Pole, and reminders of the winter of ’77’s two consecutive storms that dumped 31″ on the city.

I expected a third Accu-Weather expert to say “and don’t forget, New York dug out from that last ice age 11,000 years ago!”

All of this would have exactly the kind of stultifying woe-is-us effect that stupid baseless reporting usually aims for — except for that graphic that accompanied the story.  The three-day forecast’s horror temperatures are 33, 36 and 34 degrees.

Really?  Above-freezing temperatures to prove the point that we’re all about to freeze to death?

The Daily News really does think we’re idiots.  All the papers do.  But really…a story about the winter conditions not seen in a generation accompanied by a graphic that completely contradicts their point?

Well, this is a paper that’s lobbied hard against bodegas selling alcohol-punch drinks called “nutcrackers” but has kept silent about Bruce Ratner getting $750 million in public money for his Atlantic Yards basketball arena for a team owned by a Russia‘s wealthiest man.

Rev. Al Sharpton and Gov. Paterson say they will launch a crackdown on bodegas that sell 'nutcracker' punch, a sugary juice drink spiked with alcohol.http://www.nypost.com/rw/nypost/2009/09/24/news/photos_stories/cropped/russian_tycoon--300x300.jpg
which of these will hurt New York more?  Wait!  Let, the Daily News make the call!

Still, it’s good to start the morning with a laugh.  That’s why everyone should at least glimpse Mortimer “Yes, Mortimer” Zuckerman‘s Newspaper of Lost Opportunities.  In a town with a paper whose biggest concerns are the GNPs of Central Asian nations and another whose reactionary politics make Sarah Palin look smart, eloquent and kind, the Daily News could actually do what journalism is supposed to — report the facts, give its readership a voice, and offer a platform for truth.  Instead, it takes the easy way — weeks of Tiger Woods covers and coddling of rich real-estate FoMs — Friends of Mortimer.

While there are good reasons to read the News — Mike Lupica, the I-Team sports investigators, David Hinckley and the city’s best daily comic section — it’s good to remember what the worst transgression of the news media is.  It’s not lying.  It’s ignoring the things that hurt people the most.  Second most important?  Being beholden to the people, not your advertisers and friends.

It helps nobody in this town to spend energy and ink on bodega drinks, Tiger’s paramours and breaking-news that winter is, it can now be reported, cold.

The Daily News sporadically wages up-with-good/down-with-bad campaigns against MTA fare hikes, dopey legislators up in Albany, and city children’s agencies failures.  Big deal.  My dogs know those things are wrong.  When it comes to doing the hard work — reporting on the many frakk’d-up elements of Michael Bloomberg‘s New York that, if the mayor were shoved against a wall by an angry citizenry, could change — the Daily News is a cowardly lion, without even the desire to go get some courage.

http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/2008/12/16/alg_bloomberg-zuckerman.jpg
Mayor Bloomberg and Mortimer Zuckerman (r.): peas in a rather stanky pod

There are good reporters and workers at the News.  But their hands are tied by Mortimer, his minions and the various ranks of editors, lawyers and advertising-account hacks.

It’s not an awful thing to read The Daily News.  I do, daily.  It still aims to care more about this city than the Times or the Post.

That’s a way-low hurdle, though.  This much is clear: the Daily News is the poster child for everything wrong with newspaper journalism today.  A newspaper that refuses to dig under the rocks that conceal Bloomberg, Ratner and others’ malfeasant acts can call itself a lot of things.

“Newspaper” isn’t one of them.

Uncategorized

Finding OTBKB

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I think most of you have probably found the new OTBKB by now but you may have landed on a weird old page with a story aabout coffee or something. That shouldn’t be happening.

The new url is: otbkb.com or onlytheblogknowsbrooklyn.com

Tell your frieds who maybe haven’t visited OTBKB in a while that there’s a new OTBKB and a slightly different way of getting to it.

If you’re using an old bookmark, you might be having problems. You should bookmark the blog anew

What about RSS feeds? Yikes I  just remembered about RSS feeds. Any feedback on that would be appreciated.

Some people aren’t seeing stuff that’s supposed to be there. Like the boxes that say Contact, Tips, Advertisement, and PS 100. Are you seeing them?

The category tabs aren’t working perfectly yet. We’re still working out the kinks. I mean, genius fabulous Hepcat is.

How does it look on your browser. Do you use Firefox? Safari? Internet Explorer?

The thing is: it’s much harder to transfer an old blog in its entirety (12,000 posts) to a new system than starting a brand new blog.

Onward and upward and thanks for hanging in there.

Civics and Urban Life

CB6 Committee Approves Berkeley Carroll Expansion

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The Brooklyn Paper reports that the Berkeley Carroll School, a private school in Park Slope, got initial approval from a community board panel to go ahead with a controversial new building and a rooftop play area.

By an 11-4 vote on Monday night, the Landmarks and Land-Use Committee of Community Board 6 approved the one-story building at the Berkeley Carroll School, which is on Lincoln Place between Seventh and Eighth avenues.  The Brooklyn Paper writes:

The vote came after several contentious meetings between the school and locals last year. School officials and some opponents kept talking, eventually settling on a compromise on the new building, which will include a 4,000-square-foot rooftop recreation area for middle school students.

Civics and Urban Life, Uncategorized

Call for Nominations of Unsung Social Justice and Human Rights Leaders

Start the new year by helping the Petra Foundation identify individuals who are making distinctive contributions to the rights and dignity of others in America by submitting a nomination and by reaching out to friends and colleagues who may know such unsung leaders.

Today Petra Fellows, now 83 in number, are working in 29 states, often at risk, always at sacrifice and without the safety net of personal privilege or institutional support. Through their leadership they are enabling their constituents to change the policies that constrict their lives and they are forging alliances throughout the country to replicate their successes.

The foundation grants fellows a modest financial award, publicizes their innovative models and sustains its commitment to them, welcoming fellows to a national network of activists and advocates who are working across the lines of age, ethnicity, class and issue to build the base of civic participation for lasting change.

Please note that nominations should be submitted without the knowledge of the nominee, by those who know the nominees and their work.

The awards guidelines and short nomination questionnaire can be easily downloaded at

http://www.petrafoundation.org/nominate.html

This year’s deadline is February 15, 2010.

arts and culture, Uncategorized

Tonight: Adult Education at Union Hall

Tonight: Adult Ed, the useless information lecture series, will tackle the topic “Stage and Screen” with lectures from Patrick Borelli, Andrea Rosen, Elliott Kalan, and Jason Grote. Hosted, as always, by Charles Star.

ADULT EDUCATION PRESENTS: “Stage and Screen”
Tuesday, January 5, 2009 – 8 pm (doors at 7:30)
Union Hall in Park Slope
702 Union St. @ 5th Ave
$5 cover
http://adult- ed.net

PATRICK BORELLI, “Holy Headshot!”
Borelli walks us through the oddest headshots and acting resumes from his recent book, Holy Headshot!: A Celebration of America’s Undiscovered Talent.

ANDREA ROSEN, “Conquering the Commercial Audition”
Old Navy and mascara are a commercial actress’s best friends. Ad veteran Rosen explains.

ELLIOTT KALAN, “How to Identify the Great Stout Men of Hollywood”
Can’t tell your Edward Arnold from your Eugene Palette? You Lionel Barrymore from your Wallace Beery? Kalan is here to help.

JASON GROTE
“The Acousmatic Theater”
How to move from writing largely irrelevant plays to producing more or less equally irrelevant radio plays in one ill-conceived, poorly executed move.

All hosted by CHARLES STAR.

BIOS
PATRICK BORELLI is a comedian and writer living in Park Slope. He is the co-author, with Douglas Gorenstein, of Holy Headshot: A Celebration of America’s Undiscovered Talent (http://www.holyhead shot.com).

ANDREA ROSEN is a comic, actor, and writer who has appeared in Michael and Michael Have Issues, Flight of the Conchords, Rescue Me, Stella, The Ten, Wainy Days, The Pleasure of Your Company, and The Whitest Kids You Know. She is a regular commentator on VH1, she performs in NYC and at colleges, and she does lots of commercials. She is a proud member of the Variety Shac (http://varietyshac. com), a monthly show at UCB NY.

ELLIOTT KALAN is a writer for The Daily Show and the host of Closely Watched Films (http://bit.ly/ fJk7l), a monthly film series at 92YTribeca.

JASON GROTE is a playwright and the screenwriter of What We Got: DJ Spooky’s Quest For The Commons. He was the co-host of WFMU’s Acousmatic Theater Hour for one year.

CHARLES STAR is a lawyer sans portfolio and a stand-up comedian sans recognition who lives in Brooklyn with his excellent wife, his awesome cat, and a budding baby genius. He’s on the web at http://www.charless tar.com.

arts and culture

OTBKB Music: Now I’ve Heard Everything

As Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn moves into its spiffy new digs, OTBKB Music is taking the first business day of the new year to make some changes too.

I’ve started my own music blog, aptly titled Now I’ve Heard Everything.  It’s a continuation of what I’ve published here in 2009, but instead of just posting three days a week, I’ve have something for you six or seven days a week.  In addition, I’ll be posting some pieces to explain the technology you need to know to find music on the Internet, where there is a surprising variety of legitimate downloads.

Now, I’m not going to leave you without your Monday, Wednesday and Friday fix of OTBKB Music.  I’ll be posting an article summary with the link to it each of those days.  And to show how it will work, here’s the summary for today:

Sasha Dobson has released Burn, the first excellent album of 2010.  Changes in Sasha’s music and in her life sent Sasha in a different direction this time.  Read more at Now I’ve Heard Everything.

–Eliot Wagner

arts and culture

Jan 21: Tin House Reading at Brooklyn Reading Works

Brooklyn Reading Works presents a Tin House Reading curated by Tin House editor-in-chief Rob Spillman.

You won’t want to miss this cool BRW event.

Tin House is an American literary magazine and book publisher based in Portland, Oregon and New York City that has a reputation for turning up “what’s still righteous and nervy in American writing.”

For this special Brooklyn Reading Works reading, Spillman is bringing together Brenda Shaughnessy, Matthea Harvey and Elissa Schappell. They will be reading their own work plus one poem each by Heather Hartley, the Paris editor of Tin House.

Thursday, January 21, at 8 PM.

The Old Stone House. Third Street and Fifth avenue. Suggested donation of $5 includes refreshments. Tin House magazines and books will be offered for sale.

Shop Local, Uncategorized

Jan 9: Wedding Crashers at the Bell House

Talk about buy local. Brooklyn Based is throwing a wedding fair at the Bell House this Saturday and it sounds like a must-attend event for the Bridezilla in your life.

In one spot brides to be can meet the exceptional designers, caterers, photographers, bands and DJs who make Brooklyn a wedding capital of sorts.

This might be a good moment to mention that jewelry designer Rebecca Shepherd (one of the designers at Urban Alchemist) is rolling out a floral design company called Rebecca Shepherd Floral Design. Her flowers (like her jewelry) are GORGEOUS. FYI: her jewelry makes great bridesmaid gifts.

Brooklyn Based has handpicked 30+ original, Brooklyn-centric vendors to help you plan your wedding locally, or take a piece of Brooklyn with you wherever you tie the knot. Top caterers including Naturally Delicious, The Cleaver Company, Red Table Catering, AVEnts and Frankies Spuntino will be passing delicious hors d’oeuvres. One Girl Cookies and Nine Cakes will display and serve confections and cake. Brooklyn Brewery will be pouring its Belgian-style ales, Local 1 and 2. Wedding bands Michael Arenella & his Dreamland Orchestra, The Lascivious Biddies and The Engagements will perform along with DJ Small Change, popshop! DJs and DJ Lady J.

Other wedding vendors on the guest list include floral designers Root Stock and Quade, Rebecca Shepherd Floral Design and Denise Fasanello, jewelry designer Blanca Monrós Gómez, Bario-Neal Jewelry, Sesame Letterpress, Lion in the Sun custom invitations, calligrapher Paperfinger, Mélangerie Inc. custom paperie and gifts, Shootbooth photobooth, Hello Super 8 and Seth David Cohen videographers and photographers Daniel Krieger, Radhika Chalasani and 3 Photographers, Jesse Hendrich, M.Div., Small World Terrariums, Heights Chateau Fine Wines & Spirits, Added Value Farm, Real Honeymoons and Gap Adventures.

Saturday, January 9, 10:30 AM until 5 PM. The Bell House 149 Seventh Street

Uncategorized

What Are Those Tabs Below The Masthead?

Those are the new categories of OTBKB.  Every post will fit into one of these categories. This should make it easier for you to search for content on my blog and find something that interests you.

This won’t change your daily or weekly OTBKB reading habits. It’s just where these posts will be archived.

Civics and Urban Life: This category will include  posts about neighborhood news, politics, transportation, education, development, street life, slice of urban life, geography, urban planning and all that fun stuff. It’s also where you’ll find Greetings From Scott Turner.

Arts and Culture: This is where you’ll find OTBKB Film by Pops Corn, OTBKB Music by Eliot Wagner, poetry by Verse Responder Leon Freilich and all posts about art, local museums and galleries, music, theater, local cultural venues and film. This will also be the location for photographers  Tom Martinez and Efrain Gonzalez.

Food & Drink: This is where you”ll find all things related to food and drink.

Shop Local: This is where you’ll find all  things related to local shopping.

Smartmom: This category will be a catchall for all parenting posts and of course where you’ll find my weekly Smartmom column.

No Words Daily Pix: This is where you’ll find Hugh Crawford’s fabulous photos.

Does this make sense? Am I leaving something out?

Uncategorized

Where’s My Blogroll?

Ahhhh. Good question.

That beloved — and necessary — convention of blogs seems to be missing from this iteration of my new site.

But don’t worry: that all-important list of blogs I recommend will soon be restored to the left or right column of the blog very soon.

Shop Local

Local Shops: How Was Holiday Business?

According to the Brooklyn Paper, “it was a lousy year for mom and pop.” Writes the Brooklyn Paper:

A spot check of a dozen retailers from Williamsburg to Bay Ridge revealed that business is so bad that they’re struggling just to match their horror show numbers from 2008.

But I want to know the local details: how did shops on Seventh Avenue and Fifth Avenue really do this year. What sold, what didn’t and what was the general mood of the shoppers?

I’m going to be calling around to some local spots like the Community Bookstore, Hog Mountain, Diane Kane, Zuzu’s Petals, Cog and Pearl, Eric’s Shoestore and more to check the pulse of local retailers.

My fear is that if sales were as bad as some are saying, we’re going to see more closures on Seventh and Fifth Avenues. Let’s hope not.

That would be so depressing.

Food and Drink

Brunch at Watty & Meg in Cobble Hill

We met  friends for brunch on Saturday at Watty & Meg in Cobble Hill. We were supposed to go to Quercy next door but at 11:30 they weren’t ready for customers so we tried what our friends called “the new place on the corner.”

Watty & Meg is an old style bar/restaurant that has a very warm vibe thanks to nice lighting, oak church pews (repurposed from a Harlem church), black boards and bookstore shelving.

We sat in the back and enjoyed better than average brnch fare. I had the Scrambled eggs with Spanish chorizo and Romesco for $9, which was delicious.  Others at the table tried the somewhat exotic BBQ duck hash with Long Island duck, fingerling potatoes, Sunnyside duck egg and sliced cured duck for $15 and Huevos Rancheros for $10, which the waiter said was the dish that men always order.

It’s a super comfortable place to sit and talk. You can hear yourself think and with coffee refills, you could sit there for hours except…

…after we finished our entrees and refused dessert, the waiter asked us to leave because he said there was a reservation for 8 people. We’d only been there for about an hour and the restaurant wasn’t really that crowded. He was pretty nice about it and suggested that we sit at the bar. We paid up and left.

That was the only sour note of an otherwise excellent brunch.

Watty & Meg 248 Court Street between Kane and Baltic

Civics and Urban Life

Bill de Blasio Starts His New Job Today

Today Park Slope’s Bill de Blasio, formerly City Council representative in the 39th district, starts a new job as Public Advocate for the City of New York.

Good luck, Bill.

On his first day in office, de Blasio will hold a press conference with elected officials and local organizations to announce new changes to the structure and purview of the Public Advocate’s office.

At today’s press conference set for noon, de Blasio will be joined by first year Councilmembers Julissa Ferreras, Steve Levin, Jumaane Williams, Fernando Cabrera, Margaret Chin, Jimmy Van Bramer, and Daniel Dromm along with several city organizers and grassroots organizations.

Hey, what about Brad Lander, the man who is  taking over Bill’s seat?

de Blasio has already been floated as a potential mayoral candidate in four years. But let’s not put the cart before the horse. It’s only the first day of a new job for this ambitious politician and he seems to be off to a running start.

Today the New York Times calls de Blasio’s plans a significant rethinking of the role of the public advocate, a job that has been ignored and belittled by Mayor Bloomberg.

“This is what government is supposed to do — channel energy and activism and achieve results for our constituents,” de Blasio told the NY Times.

“This is a city that not long ago seemed ungovernable, so a very top-down style of government has taken shape, epitomized by the current administration,” Mr. de Blasio said. “But you have to engage the grass roots, and my office will be the leading edge of that.”