Author: GreenpointBlog

Neighbors Allied for Good Growth (NAG) is introducing a pilot program for a reusable takeout container in Greenpoint.

How does it work? You sign up for the program through NAG-Brookly.org/Shareware.

Then you order food at a participating restaurant:

• Anella (222 Franklin Street)
• Toro Ironworks Kitchen and Bar (254 Driggs Avenue)

Be sure to mention the shareware program when ordering.

When you finish, rinse out your container and return it to the restaurant to get a 10 percent in-store discount.=

Try it today!

Councilman Antonio Reynoso’s State of the District address, originally scheduled for tonight, has been postponed due to inclement weather.

A new date for the speech will be announced soon.

Stay tuned!

As the city prepares for a snowstorm tomorrow, the city has one message for residents: clear the road!

The city’s Emergency Management Department issued a hazardous travel advisory for Thursday. The National Weather Service has already issued a Winter Storm Warning in effect tomorrow from midnight to 6 p.m.

If the forecast’s prediction becomes reality, conditions on the road will be slick and dangerous, especially during the morning commute.

“Although the weather is warm today, winter will return quickly on Thursday with dangerous conditions for the morning commute,” said Emergency Management Commissioner Joseph Esposito. “New Yorkers should be prepared for snowfall and slippery roads and plan to take mass transit where possible.”

The precipitation will start tonight, but snow will come down early in the morning, falling heavily at times. Officials expect six to 12 inches of snow, but some places may have even more.

Of course, it won’t be like the blizzard of 2016, pictured above. But you get the message. Avoid driving if you can and use mass transit on Thursday.

To prepare for the snow, the Department of Sanitation is deploying 689 salt spreaders across the five boroughs. The PlowNYC app will be activated and 1,600 plows will be dispatched.

DSNY will assign 2,400 workers per shift, each working 12-hour shifts beginning at 7 p.m. tonight.

Keep this in mind: garbage and recycling collections will be suspended tomorrow once snow operations begin. Alternate Side Parking will also be suspended Thursday, but parking meters are in effect.

Here are some travel safety tips on behalf of the city:

For motorists:

• If you must drive a vehicle, monitor weather and traffic reports for the latest road conditions. Use mass transportation whenever possible.

• Drive slowly. Posted speed limits are for ideal weather conditions. Vehicles take longer to stop on snow and ice than on dry pavement.

• Use major streets or highways for travel whenever possible.

• Four-wheel drive vehicles may make it easier to drive on snow-covered roads, but they do not stop quicker than other vehicles.

• Keep the name and phone number of at least one local towing service in your car in case you break down or become stuck in snow.

• If you get stuck on the road, stay with your car and contact a towing company.

For pedestrians:

• Exercise caution and avoid slippery surfaces; some ice may not be visible.

• Use handrails when using stairs.

• Wear layers including a hat, gloves/mittens, and a scarf to stay protected from the cold. And keep clothes and shoes dry, if a layer becomes wet, remove it.

• Keep fingertips, earlobes, and noses covered if you go outside.

• Have heightened awareness of cars, particularly when approaching or crossing intersections.

• Wear sturdy boots that provide traction to reduce slipping. Use handrails when using stairs.

• Seniors should take extra care outdoors to avoid slips and falls from icy conditions.

Councilman Stephen Levin, Assemblyman Joseph Lentol and State Senator Daniel Squadron are hosting a transportation safety meeting on Thursday.

It will be at the Bushwick Inlet Park building at 86 Kent Avenue. It starts at 6:30 p.m.

Officials from the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the advocacy group Transportation Alternatives will be on hand to answer questions.

More more information, contact bsoloraire@council.nyc.gov or call 718-875-5200.

It’s that time of year again.

Grand Street Restaurant Week is making its 2017 return. It will run from February 6th through February 12th in East Williamsburg.

Diners can indulge in yummy meals for lunch or dinner at set prices. This year, 12 restaurants are offering 2-course lunch specials for prices ranging from $9 to $15.

Three-course dinner specials will range from $12 to $30. Check out the menus here.

On Grand Street, you’ll find all sorts of cuisines, from Italian and Indian restaurants to Mexican, Russian and American eateries.

The newest restaurant in the lineup is Pie Smith, which allows you to build your own pizza pie and serves a hearty panini as well.

If you want to share your restaurant week dining experience on Instagram, use the hashtag #DineOnGrand and @GrandStreetBID for a chance to win a $25 gift card to one of the Grand Street restaurants.

Happy eating!

Councilman Stephen Levin penned a post on Medium advocating for supportive housing.

As Levin explains in the piece, supportive housing is affordable housing combined with on-site resources.  The housing units are used to help people who are chronically homeless, particularly those who suffer from mental health and/or substance abuse issues.

As the chair of the General Welfare Committee in the City Council, Levin takes a special interest in child welfare, homelessness and other issues affecting thousands of New Yorkers.

“We know what works,” he wrote in the post. “The evidence shows that supportive housing is one of the best tools we have to address the crisis of homelessness.”

“Let’s provide for our most vulnerable neighbors and set them on a path to long-term stability.”

The Brooklyn councilman argues while New York City has committed to building 15,000 units of supportive housing in 15 years,  the state has yet to deliver on a year-old promise to invest $2 billion in supportive housing.

“The failure to establish a new NY/NY agreement is a casualty of the politics between New York City and the State,” Levin wrote, referring to the much-maligned rivalry between Mayor de Blasio and Governor Cuomo. “In the meantime, tens of thousands of individuals and families are waiting for shelter.”

Read the full post here.

Authorities are looking for more information regarding this credit card fraud case dating back to last year.

Last November, a 34-year-old woman within the 94th Precinct reported to police fraudulent activity on her credit line. She was notified by her creditors.

An ongoing investigation found that the victim’s personal information was used to make unauthorized purchases on other existing credit lines.

The sneaky crooks then opened new lines of credit to make even more unauthorized purchases totaling more than $30,000.

What did they purchase?

On November 22, the woman in the photo purchased two Rolex watches for $18,889.91 at Tourneau at 12 East 57th Street.

The unidentified man in the photo then tried to spend another $10,000 at Saks Fifth Avenue, located at 611 5th Avenue, on November 30.

The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.

Police are looking for a man who robbed the Dollar Tree store at 28 Debevoise Street in Bushwick.

Authorities say that the suspect walked into the storeroom area and used an unknown object to break the padlock that secured the storage locker.

He then took $700 worth of merchandise, as seen above. He fled eastbound on Debevoise Avenue.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS or for Spanish 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers Website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or texting their tips to 274637(CRIMES) then enter TIP577.

On Saturday, many New Yorkers will celebrate the start of the Lunar New Year.

Jeremy Lin, point guard for the Brooklyn Nets, will be one of them. The California native has roots in Taiwan, which observes the holiday.

Lin headed to the NBA Store in Manhattan earlier this week, where he hung out with fans and signed merchandise. Take a look at the photos below, courtesy of Steven Freeman/NBA.

Outreach in Greenpoint will be expanding its hours and services starting on January 28.

Saturday hours will be added from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each week for alcohol and substance abuse treatment.

The nonprofit agency will provide services in English, Polish and Spanish.

“It is with a great deal of pride and gratitude to our highly professional staff that we offer Saturday services,” said Jill Mastrandrea, the program’s director. “After working closely with clients and families in the neighborhood, and in the nearby communities in Brooklyn and Queens for several years, we have determined that there is a need for these weekend hours and we look forward to further accommodating those who cannot get to us during the week.”

“We’re pleased whenever we can expand our services to help those in the area who are struggling with the pain of addiction,” added Neil Sheehan, executive vice president and COO of Outreach.

Opened in 2002, Outreach provides the following services:

• Adult Outpatient Treatment
• Adolescent Outpatient Treatment
• DUI/DWI Services