Bed-Stuy Residents Say Extremely Loud Synagogue Siren Poses Health Risk

BY GABRIELLE SIERRA IN NEWS ON OCT 25, 2016 3:32 PM

Long-time Brooklynites may be familiar with the siren noises that resound on Friday evenings in neighborhoods across the borough. This noise, which signals the beginning of Shabbat, gives observant Jews a heads up that it's time to head home before sundown. The sirens are especially common in neighborhoods like South Williamsburg and Borough Park, which have large ultra-Orthodox Jewish populations.

The sirens, while extremely loud, are short-lived and usually easy enough to ignore, but a new siren on top of a Bed-Stuy synagogue is causing a bit of a stir with residents. (Disclosure: I am one of these residents.) The siren was recently recorded hitting a decibel level of 106, more than double the legal limit for New York City.


Cop Won't Arrest Perv Slapping His Penis Against A Subway Column

BY GABRIELLE SIERRA IN NEWS ON JUL 14, 2016 11:20 AM

As a female growing up in New York City I’ve developed a thick skin when it comes to indecent exposure. I’ve been flashed a handful of times, and although the moment is always disturbing, I've typically decided there's not much to do about it. My general rule of thumb is to ignore the flasher and extricate myself from the situation in a quick and safe manner. Sadly my ability to soldier through an act of indecent exposure without freaking out has almost become a point of pride—a sign of true city grit.

However, I recently found myself in a unique position; a man exposed himself to me when I knew a policeman was nearby and I reported the incident. I wish I could say this story ends with an arrest and me riding home on a rainbow of justice, but sadly it does not.


Alleged Drug Dealer Charged In 2013 Electric Zoo "Molly" Death

BY GABRIELLE SIERRA IN NEWS ON JUL 30, 2014 5:05 PM

A Buffalo man is being accused of selling the "Molly" that led to a death at last year's Electric Zoo. Patrick Morgan was arrested this morning under charges of narcotics distribution and narcotics conspiracy in connection to the death of 23-year-old Jeffrey Russ.


Rikers Island Correction Officers Accused Of Trafficking Drugs Into Prison

BY GABRIELLE SIERRA IN NEWS ON JUL 30, 2014 3:58 PM

One former and two current Rikers Island correction officers have been arrested and indicted on charges of drug trafficking, smuggling contraband, and bribery. The indictments come as the result of a five-month wiretap investigation dubbed "Operation Correction Connection," during which undercover investigators posed as friends and family of Rikers Island inmates and made deals with accused officers Steven Dominguez and Divine Rahming.


McDonald's Can't Hide Behind Franchisees Who Exploit Workers, NLRB Rules

BY GABRIELLE SIERRA IN FOOD ON JUL 30, 2014 1:35 PM

In a decision laden with potentially super-sized consequences, the federal government ruled on Tuesday that McDonalds is an employer that exerts substantial power over its employees’ working conditions. This ruling by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) shot down $5.6 billion company's assertion that it was not in control of employment decisions at its franchised restaurants.


Selfish New Yorkers Won't Give Up Their Organs

BY GABRIELLE SIERRA IN NEWS ON JUL 30, 2014 11:57 AM

A new study has found that New York state adults are severely lagging behind the rest of the country when it comes to registering for organ and tissue donation. New York state adults register as organ and tissue donors at less than half the rate of adults nationwide.

The need for lifesaving organs in New York State is among the highest in the country; today, out of the nearly 123,000 Americans that are on waiting lists for organ transplants, almost 11,000 are New Yorkers. Last year, 381 New Yorkers became too sick to remain on the waiting list, and 539 died awaiting a transplant.


NYC Paid Sick Leave Laws Kick In Today

BY GABRIELLE SIERRA IN NEWS ON JUL 30, 2014 11:00 AM

Today marks the first official day of city-mandated paid sick leave, which means that more New Yorkers can finally stop dragging their summer-cold plagued body to work, spreading germs, making enemies, and violating important office etiquette laws.

"Today, we embark on the beginning of a bright new chapter in New York City's history," says Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. "The start of paid sick days for over a million newly qualified workers is a momentous occasion that will help build a stronger, healthier New York that lives up to the promise of uplifting all those who call our great City home."


Man Accused Of Setting Cat On Fire Claims Self-Defense

BY GABRIELLE SIERRA IN NEWS ON JUL 27, 2014 5:15 PM

The Bronx man accused of torturing a cat to death by setting it on fire is now claiming the act was carried out in self-defense.

According to The Daily News, Ernesto Bailey told the police that the cat came into his apartment and was scratching him and his children. “I went outside for a smoke and the cat jumped on my head, and as a reflex, I threw it against the wall. I ran the cat over with a shopping cart,” Bailey said.


Ticks Suck The Fun Out Of Summer Hamptons Getaways

BY GABRIELLE SIERRA IN NEWS ON JUL 27, 2014 4:52 PM

A trend far worse than $25,000 bottles of champagne has hit the Hamptons this season: Lyme disease. Hospital visits as a result of tick bites have been on the rise in the region this year. One local physician told The Post that he treats 100 patients each week for Lyme disease. To combat the issue, Southampton Hospital has started the Tick-Borne Disease Resource Center, a service created to educate the public about ticks and to diagnose and treat bites.


Frozen Pot Stickers Are Hastening The World's Demise

BY GABRIELLE SIERRA IN FOOD ON JUL 27, 2014 3:15 PM

Your favorite doughy midnight snack may be a contributing factor to world annihilation. A fascinating article in this week's Times Magazine shows how China's rapidly expanding network of freezers is having a huge impact on global warming.

The world's number one carbon emitter (We're Number Two!) is experiencing the boom in commercial and residential refrigeration the United States saw some decades ago, but on a much larger scale.


Police: Drunk Driver Accidentally Killed His Ex-Girlfriend

BY GABRIELLE SIERRA IN NEWS ON JUL 27, 2014 10:00 AM

A 21-year old woman was killed on Long Island yesterday after her ex-boyfriend accidentally ran her over in his car. The victim, Krystal Berkowitz, had refused to ride home with her ex because he was intoxicated, Newsday reports.


Some Ultra-Orthodox Jews Say Woman's Car Crash Was Punishment For "Perverse Acts"

BY GABRIELLE SIERRA IN NEWS ON JUL 27, 2014 12:36 PM

The recent car crash involving an ex-Hasidic Brooklyn woman has prompted some in the ultra-Orthodox community to paint it as an act of divine retribution. Brenda Turtle, aka Brenda Rosenberg, has caused a stir since leaving the Satmar community nearly two years ago, establishing a following on Twitter and Facebook.

In the past Turtle has used social media to discuss her issues with the Satmars. A video on YouTube shows her holding a drink and presenting what she believes to be the double standards of Hasidic culture, highlighting the repression of women.


NYC Struggles To Address Influx Of Migrant Children

BY GABRIELLE SIERRA IN NEWS ON JUL 25, 2014 4:27 PM

A task force has been formed to address the flood of unaccompanied migrant minors streaming into New York. This new coordinated effort was announced on Wednesday during a meeting hosted by the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), where officials discussed a new strategy for handling the children, involving a partnership with local church charities, health care organizations, and legal groups.


NYCHA Not Hiring Enough Public Housing Residents, Audit Finds

BY GABRIELLE SIERRA IN NEWS ON JUL 25, 2014 3:29 PM

An audit has shown that The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) failed to meet their own hiring requirements, subsequently depriving public housing and low-income New Yorkers of potential wages.

The audit, conducted by NYC Comptroller Scott M. Stringer, examined 29 of the 224 capital project contracts awarded by NYCHA between the years 2010 and 2012.


Man Slashed In The Face Near Times Square

BY GABRIELLE SIERRA IN NEWS ON JUL 25, 2014 11:15 AM

A 32-year old Queens man had his face slashed during a dispute near Times Square early this morning. The incident, which took place in front of 717 8th Avenue at around 2:12 a.m., was the result of an argument between the victim and an unidentified male.

Police say the two men got into a physical altercation before the suspect punched the victim in the face with an unknown object, causing a deep laceration to left side of his lip. The suspect then fled and is still at large.


Woman Files Sexual Harassment Suit Against Boss Who Allegedly Wooed Her With Racist Insults

BY GABRIELLE SIERRA IN NEWS ON JUL 24, 2014 4:32 PM

A female executive assistant at the business management firm Alvarez & Marsal has filed a sexual harassment suit against the company, alleging that her boss continuously assaulted her with a flow of inappropriate, unwelcome, and generally racist comments. The woman, Maysa Abdel-Razeq, claims that this sort of behavior went on for years, "culminating in a campaign of retaliation against her" after she publicly refused her boss's advances.


NYC Employee Allegedly Stole $500K Intended For Homeless

BY GABRIELLE SIERRA IN NEWS ON JUL 24, 2014 12:41 PM

A city human resources worker has been arrested for allegedly pocketing over $500,000 meant for homeless and low-income New Yorkers. The employee in question, Rafael Heras, is charged with stealing public assistance funds through fraudulent rent checks issued to bogus landlords.

The arrest came after discrepancies were discovered by the City Human Resources Administration (HRA), the sector that Heras worked for. The complaint was then examined by the New York City Department of Investigation, resulting in Heras's arrest this week.


$90 Million Will Be Spent To Make Port Authority Bus Terminal Less Soul-Crushing

BY GABRIELLE SIERRA IN NEWS ON JUL 24, 2014 12:27 PM

Arriving at the Port Authority Bus Terminal is like entering New York City through America's most depressing shopping mall. There is always a vendor selling headbands, everyone looks lost, and the aromatic carpet of Auntie Anne's pretzels is punctuated by occasional stains of urine. It is hard to find your way out, and once you do get past the heavy front doors you are immediately confronted by a strange man who is super mad at you. Welcome to New York!


Morton Williams Supermarkets Boycott Turkish Products

BY GABRIELLE SIERRA IN FOOD ON JUL 23, 2014 5:07 PM

Morton Williams Supermarkets have announced that they will be boycotting Turkish goods as a gesture of solidarity with Israel. According to a release issued today by the supermarket chain, the product ban will begin immediately.

The decision was spurred by Turkey's boycott of Israeli products, and by Prime Minister Recep Erdogan's "support and embrace of the terrorist organization Hamas, his vitriolic anti-Semitic comments comparing Israelis to Nazis, and his ally's egregious acceptance of violence against the Jewish community in Turkey."


Brooklyn Man Accused Of Befriending Elderly Woman Then Scamming Her Out Of $42K

BY GABRIELLE SIERRA IN NEWS ON JUL 23, 2014 3:00 PM

A Brooklyn man has entered the running to win the 'biggest jerk in New York' title, neck and neck with the guy who kicked a cat, and the ReBar owner who left betrothed couples in the lurch. The alleged jerk in question is Ariel Lemos Hernandez, a 41-year-old who lives in Flatbush. Hernandez is being charged with grand larceny and criminal possession of a forged instrument after scamming over $42,500 from an 87-year-old woman.


Anti-Islamic Hate Crimes In Brooklyn Under Investigation

BY GABRIELLE SIERRA IN NEWS ON JUL 23, 2014 2:36 PM

Local religious and political leaders gathered in Bay Ridge yesterday in order to address escalating anti-Muslim hate crimes in the area. The conference was called after two separate incidents occurred in one weekend, increasing tension between Israeli and Muslim groups. Both incidents overlapped with the final days of Ramadan.

The first incident occurred on July 18th. Elderly Muslims heading into a Sheepshead Bay mosque on Coney Island Avenue were hit by eggs flung from a passing car. According to the New York Times, the attackers shouted, “This is for your Allah!”


Falling Tree Branch Seriously Injures Man In Bed-Stuy

BY GABRIELLE SIERRA IN NEWS ON JUL 23, 2014 11:34 AM

A Brooklyn man was seriously injured yesterday after he was crushed by a falling tree branch in Bedford-Stuyvesant. The victim, 43-year-old Wayne Knight, was walking along MacDonough Street on Tuesday afternoon when he was suddenly struck by the detached branch.

“I just watched as the tree just cracked in half and fell on top of him,” Shay Wilson, told The Post. Wilson had been speaking with Knight just moments before the branch broke free, and ran over immediately after the incident. “He didn’t scream; he was totally quiet. He was knocked unconscious,” Wilson said. “I didn’t know if he was dead or not.”


Nuns Defy Stereotype To Raise Rent On Immigrant Tenants

BY GABRIELLE SIERRA IN NEWS ON JUL 20, 2014 3:30 PM

Nuns running the St. Joseph's Immigrant Home are acting somewhat less than benevolent, raising rents on tenants and subsequently forcing out those unable to pay.

“You can really tell they do not want us in the building,” Rachel Wunder, told The Post. “They’re trying to suck everybody dry here.” Wunder's monthly rent was raised by $200, jumping from $600 to $800.


Agency On "Life Support" Will Investigate NYPD Choke Holds

BY GABRIELLE SIERRA IN NEWS ON JUL 20, 2014 2:48 PM

After the death of 43-year-old Eric Garner at the hands of police last week, the organization charged with adjudicating civilian complaints against the NYPD says it will review the more than 1,000 incidents in which New Yorkers say officers illegally used choke holds. Yet of those 1,000 or so incidents reported to the Civilian Complaint Review Board since 2009, only nine were substantiated, a statistic that reflects the agency's longstanding inability to meaningfully impact police behavior.

Woman & Her Two Would-Be Rescuers Rescued From Hudson River

BY GABRIELLE SIERRA IN NEWS ON JUL 20, 2014 12:50 PM

Two men plunged into the Hudson River yesterday to rescue a woman that had jumped into the water. Although all three had to be rescued by the FDNY, the incident still proved that some people are just really nice.

One of the men who jumped in after the woman told CBS New York, "I saw a crowd starting and we didn’t know what to do,” the man said. “I said ‘you’re going with me right?’ He said ‘yea.’ So I said ‘Alright let’s go, let’s do it because I can’t do it alone.’ We got over to the wall and help came.”


Rock Slide Leaves Metro-North Passengers Stranded (Again)

BY GABRIELLE SIERRA IN NEWS ON JUL 20, 2014 10:45 AM

Metro-North service has resumed after a Saturday afternoon rock slide delayed trains and stranded passengers. The incident occurred between the Garrison and Peekskill stations on the Hudson Line, leaving commuters waiting several hours for shuttle busses.

"Thousands of people waiting for one bus... Metro north fails again," said tipster Tarin Lite, who sent images of long lines and unhappy faces.


A Guide To Bed-Stuy's Blossoming Craft Beer Scene

BY GABRIELLE SIERRA IN FOOD ON JUL 29, 2013 2:31 PM

The neighborhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant has become quite the hotspot for craft beer options, available in all sorts of venues and stores. Here are a few of our favorite spots to grab a craft cold one.

BROOKLYN TAP HOUSE

Any bar with the motto "No crap on tap, craft beer at its best" is a-okay in our book. Straddling the Bed Stuy-Clinton Hill border this sports bar boasts 42 beers on tap as well as 72 bottled and 5 canned choices. The craft beer options are many, including the Breckenridge Vanilla Porter, Two Brothers Domaine Dupage and the Mad River Double Dread Imperial Red. Brooklyn Tap House also offers up a large food menu, a massive interior space complete with multiple television screens, and a backyard. 16oz drafts go for $6.

Brooklyn Tap House is located at 590 Myrtle Avenue, (347) 750-7557, http://www.brooklyntaphouse.com/ordereze/default.aspx


Photos: Polar Bear Club Hosts First Swim Of The Season, Calls for New Members

BY GABRIELLE SIERRA IN ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ON NOV 5, 2013 5:17 PM

This past Sunday the Coney Island Polar Bear Club met for their first swim of the season. The dip, which attracted over fifty brave souls, was held on Coney Island beach, where the club has been conquering the icy waters since 1903.

The cold water swim season runs from November-April, with the infamous New Years Day swim attracting hundreds of masochists adventurous thrill seekers. But if you are looking to find a more long term commitment, the club is on the lookout for ten new members.

Spitzer Heckled At First Petition Signing: "What's The Going Rate For A Hooker?"

BY GABRIELLE SIERRA IN NEWS ON JUL 8, 2013 4:50 PM

Hours after announcing his bid for NYC Comptroller, former Governor Eliot Spitzer weathered the mid-day heat wave in Union Square. His goal? To collect some of the 3,750 signatures needed in order to get his name on the ballot. The result? About seven signatures, a suit covered in sweat, a huge swarm of reporters closing in on him, and infamous heckler Joey Boots yelling, "Hey Spitzer, what's the going rate for a hooker?"


Why Is Iced Coffee Getting So Ridiculously Expensive?

BY GABRIELLE SIERRA IN FOOD ON JUL 14, 2014 12:35 PM

Summer 2014 has brought many troubling things to New Yorkers, from rats in wraps, and sharks near the beach. But one of the most upsetting first world problems we struggle with here has been the dramatic rise in iced coffee prices. Counting up your caffeine-related receipts can be more depressing than counting up your booze-related ones. That's why we don't count receipts!