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macro/micro brooklyn

Anti-Jail Rally on Brooklyn Courthouse Steps Almost Didn't HappenToday

As local politicians and advocates mounted the steps of state Supreme Court for the "Stop the Brooklyn House of Detention" rally near Borough Hall Tuesday morning, a courthouse security guard came out and demanded to see a permit.

There was an awkward pause, a sort of "I thought you had it" moment, as the organizers realized that there was, um, no permit. The guard proceeded to tells the dignitaries where to go -- way over there, by the road.

After a bit of hemming and hawing, the misunderstanding got worked out (the large number of dignitaries may have had something to do with it) and the Brooklyn House of D opponents made their case on the courthouse steps, as planned.

The Mysterious Disappearing 'Drug Dealing Russians,' and More Brooklyn BriefsToday

- New York's phone and Internet unemployment claims system started to buckle on Monday afternoon and was out of service completely for part of Tuesday -- while as many as 10,000 people per hour tried to get in. ABC News via NY Magazine

- Are rents actually getting cheaper in Brownstone Brooklyn? Many commenters on Brownstoner have their doubts. Brownstoner

- We didn't know you could get pho on Atlantic Avenue! A Brooklyn Life

- What the heck is that silvery mass growing out of the bottom of a Sunset Park building? Best View in Brooklyn

- Did the New York Times really screw up their Real Estate Classified section? Brownstoner

- The city has drastically revised its Red Hook waterfront plans. Brooklyn Eagle

- A Stop Work Order wa

Massive Security Measures Coming to Brooklyn's Bridges?Today

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is trying to figure out how many qualified contractors are available "to carry out up to a half a billion dollars worth of security improvements on the bridges connecting Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens," according to the Brooklyn Eagle.

The security improvements might include "the construction of gates, forced-entry door and window treatments, access ladders and platforms, cable and suspender rope covers, steel and masonry reinforcement, anti-climb barriers . . . video surveillance, intrusion detection, access control and command centers."

The Eagle calls this the "bunkerizing" of the bridges, and note that similar measures have been successfully undertaken in the UK.

More here.

Photo by MK Metz

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Electrified Lampposts in BrooklynYesterday

While taking a stroll yesterday, we ran across several lampposts in Brooklyn Heights and Downtown Brooklyn that were blocked off with caution tape and guarded by black cars sporting orange traffic cones.

The one shown above is at the northwest corner of Cadman Plaza West and Clark Street. The Con Ed employee in the car told us that a voltage hazard existed in the lamp post and he was guarding it until the company could come by and fix it.

He was also guarding the nearby post in the middle of the intersection of Cadman Plaza West and Clark, shown above.

Public Comment Wednesday on New Brooklyn Heights Wine Bar - UPDATEJanuary 5

The new cranberry-colored Brooklyn Heights Wine Bar will open at 50 Henry Street in the former Wine Bar. There will be an opportunity for public comment at a CB2 meeting to be held Jan. 7 at 6 p.m. at the Brooklyn Hospital Center, 121 DeKalb Ave., North Pavilion, Third Floor Conference Rooms 3A and 3B.

According to the Brooklyn Heights Blog and the Brooklyn Paper, the BHWB will be a joint venture from the owners of Henry’s End (Mark Lahm) and Cranberry’s (Jim Montemarano).

The restaurant will serve small, succulent plates of "cheeses, charcuterie, soups and interesting salads.” Come spring, wine will be served.

Frankly, we can't wait