New York City is dubbed the “city that never sleeps,” operating twenty-four hours with no breaks. But Coney Island, wide awake in the summer as an iconic tourist destination, sleeps during winter, until the scorching heat returns. 

To most New Yorkers Coney Island is the beach, the Cyclone and Luna Park. It is constantly labeled as a summer attraction. Summer crowds jump around from the boardwalk to the rides to local dining options. All day, the MTA’s Stillwell Avenue station brings waves of visitors, who follow the same routine as those who arrived earlier. It is the season where businesses, both corporate and local, are able to thrive off the large crowds. 

But after the summer, foot traffic diminishes to a trickle of local residents taking the subway to work. The long lines are reduced to three to five people. Business operating hours, which once stretched from noon to midnight or beyond, now end by 10pm. Local businesses, without a brand name to carry them through the off season, close early or shut down entirely. Surf Avenue at night becomes a deserted, quiet space.

Two related development plans are in the works that might swell Coney Island’s resident population and maybe draw visitors to Coney Island in the cooler months.

On December 11th, a one billion dollar reconstruction for the Coney Island boardwalk was approved, according to Grace Tang, program director at the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, who spoke at a Community Board 13 meeting. The plan includes renovating the boardwalk using existing materials, replacing broken wood panels and unleveled concrete floors.

“Once design kicks off, we’ll reach out and work with the Community Board 13, New York City Housing Authority, the alliance of Coney Island, the Aquarium, and many others,” Tang said. Aside from offering new housing space, the ground floor of these new buildings also includes space for businesses to build new restaurants. As of now, there is an Asian cuisine restaurant being built in the space, adding more restaurants in the area.

The boardwalk renovation is part of the “Coney Island West” plan, first announced by NYC Mayor Eric Adams in 2024 that also includes 1,500 units of new housing and an upgrade to the sports center. Mayor Adams said, “We are delivering mixed-income affordable housing, investing $42 million to renovate Abe Stark Sports Center, and making significant improvements across streets, sewers, and the public realm. Coney Island’s best days still lie ahead, and today, we are starting the next chapter of its bright future.” 

The plan intends to encourage local business and address many issues that were caused by Hurricane Sandy, as the storm’s impact on the area is still present to this day. But the Coney Island West plan also stirs fear of gentrification.

Rosalina Khanis, a longtime native of Coney Island, said, “When I was little there were a lot of mom-and-pop shops and overall family-run businesses where everyone knew each other, and now it feels more commercialized, where it’s for business rather than being a community.” Khanis added, “Gentrification, on one point, is ok to bring in more younger people, but on the negative side, the sense of community really goes down.” 

Some businesses, though would be welcome. The current Coney Island area lacks 24-hour delis. Delis on Surf Avenue close down for the night by 11pm. As of now, there is only one deli open for twenty-four hours. The deli is located next to the Coney Island-Stillwell Av, and a worker, Jaheem, who preferred to not give out their last name, said, “People come to us because we are the only deli open all day and all night. MTA workers getting off work come here instead of McDonald’s. We’re the better option.”

   Ruby’s, a popular family-owned restaurant, may also benefit. A former worker, Brandon Zayas, commented, “Rudy’s will only benefit from any change happening to Coney; the place has been in business for decades and is considered a local landmark.” Ruby’s is currently closed for the winter season.

One development plan was recently defeated: the plan to introduce a casino. The selling point for the community was that a casino would boost the area’s economy by attracting year-round foot traffic. The casino proposal encountered pushback from Brooklyn’s borough president, Coney Island’s community board members, and City Council members. Talks regarding the proposal have lingered in the air since 2022, but finally, in 2025, the casino idea was shut down. Dubbed as a victory for the community.

Over 13 years after the devastation of Hurricane Sandy, the waterfront community of Gerritsen Beach still suffers from the same vulnerabilities as it did during Hurricane Sandy, as residents say little has changed. 

Before the storm hit in 2012, Gerritsen Beach was considered Zone B in the city’s emergency management plan. This designation was a critical factor in the neighborhood’s preparation and response to the storm, because unlike Zone A, the residents of Zone B were not instructed to evacuate when the storm came. The flooding started with people’s basements but very quickly escalated.  

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced that Gerristen Beach would now be considered Zone A, and pledged better social services and improved infrastructure to prevent similar disasters in the future. 

Some homeowners have since elevated their houses to fit the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) construction standards, including the base flood elevation (BFE). BFE is the height floodwater is expected to reach during a base flood, which has a 1% chance of occurring any given year. This is true for resident Barbara Curran, who lost her house due to flooding during the storm. She said it took roughly five months to rebuild and elevate her home, but that it worked. 

“Since we elevated our house we haven’t had any flooding,” said Curran. 

Her house used to be below sea level, something that many people in the neighborhood still struggle with. “Many homes with basements continue to flood during heavy rain or coastal storms,” said Curran. 

Since Gerritsen Beach was not originally part of Brooklyn’s floodplain, “…[houses] were not built to current flood resilient construction standards provided by FEMA and reflected in the New York City Building Code,” according to the Department of City Planning (DCP). 

A proposal to rezone Gerritsen Beach under the DCP’s Resilient Neighborhoods initiative entered public review in October 2020, but there haven’t been any updates since then. DCP did not respond to inquiries about the plan’s status. 

According to Community Board 15 Chairperson Theresa Scavo, the proposal appears to have stalled completely. “We were promised DEP [Department of Environmental Protection] sewer shut offs as well as generators for the stores on Gerritsen Avenue and many other updates. But, as far as I remember nothing has been done,” said Scavo. 

She added that no significant action was ever taken. “City Planning proposed how Gerritsen should be zoned and elevation heights but only a few houses have followed the plan,” said Scavo. 

The reason for this is straightforward: “The cost for floodproofing is very high. Most homeowners can’t afford it,” said Scavo. 

With elevation out of reach for many residents, some advocates are pushing for alternative strategies to reduce flooding. One option, permeable pavement, uses alternative materials designed to soak up storm water and prevent flooding. At a Town Hall meeting at Brooklyn College on Oct. 22, permeable pavement advocate Rona Taylor, Executive Director of the Central and South East Brooklyn Community Development Corporation (CXSE BK), described how it would work. 

“It’s a type of pavement where when it floods, the water can go into this material and then it absorbs the water and then when it’s hot, the water evaporates and it cools the air,” said Taylor.

The first implementations of permeable pavement were installed in South Brooklyn over the summer, but there have been no announcements of where it may be installed next. 

For a waterfront neighborhood like Gerritsen Beach, such infrastructure could offer relief. But implementing permeable pavement would require extensive construction and major funding, both of which remain uncertain. 

A new affordable housing project is set to be built in Bath Beach, with the remodeling of the New Utrecht Library and the adjacent parking lot, to create new apartments that will be part of a new city program called “Living Libraries.” 

Living libraries are a city initiative that is part of the “City for Yes for Families” led by the city government, as well as the Economic Development Corporation, the Brooklyn Public Library, and Housing Preservation and Development. The program involves remodeling existing libraries and adding affordable housing. 

Over the last few years, the Bath Beach/Bensonhurst area has seen many changes, including business openings and closings, and project delays. Still, one of the major topics under discussion is adding housing to the area.

In 2023, the area received notice of a new homeless shelter under construction, and the community’s reaction was adverse. Both Councilmember Susan Zhuang and Assemblymember William Colton, along with many residents, protested for over 100 days straight to hope that the shelter wouldn’t be built. 

The reasoning is that the homeless system is flawed, and businesses and schools surround the location at 2501 86th St. The current fight is ongoing as the neighborhood approaches the demolition date of the building that will become a homeless shelter. 

In late September, Mayor Adams announced the redevelopment of the New Utrecht library as part of the “Living Libraries program.” Its goal is to develop more affordable housing. His administration, earlier this year, announced that it “created, preserved, or planned approximately 426,800 homes for New Yorkers. This will include the 69-year-old library and the parking lot next to it. 

“Earlier this year, I told New Yorkers that we would make our city the best place to raise a family; projects like New Utrecht and how we get it done. This ambitious project will deliver affordable housing, high-quality services, and a state-of-the-art library, all in one location,” said Mayor Adams.  

The current stage of the process is the community engagement section, which seeks to understand the community’s views, including those of the public and government officials who represent it.

“At this very early stage in the process, my priority is to determine how our residents feel about the project,” said District 47 Assemblymember William Colton. “For this reason, I am reaching out in a variety of ways to those who live and work in the area, to determine what questions and issues they may have about what is being proposed, and any concerns that they may feel need to be addressed. My intention, once I clarify this, is to advocate strenuously on behalf of my constituents, to make sure that their needs are taken into account.” 

As of now, Community Board 11 hasn’t taken a stance on the project. They are waiting for residents to contact them. 

The library project isn’t new in New York; in 2017, the Fifth Ave Committee announced plans for an affordable housing project at the Sunset Park Library in Sunset Park. The project includes a renovated library and 50 units around it, which were reopened in November 2023. 

At the time, people were mixed on the project, as it could lead to gentrification or displacement from the community. Another issue is that some residents aren’t able to access that housing due to costs and background checks. 

“Yeah, it’s affordable for some people, and that’s great, but the reality is that a lot of people in Sunset don’t have the paperwork necessary to even apply for this type of housing. Not to mention the process is long and tedious,” said Antonio Meza, who has been a resident in Sunset Park for 15 years. “Overall, I’m more for more affordable housing, but the process to obtain it needs to be improved.”

As of now, there is no set date for the construction or demolition of the New Utrecht Library, but the questionnaire regarding people’s reactions to the NYC Housing Preservation and Development deadline is scheduled for December 19. 

In the morning of November 5th, the Magen David Yeshiva on McDonald Ave, in Gravesend, Brooklyn, was graffitied with a swastika symbol. It was spray-painted on a fence pillar in front of the Yeshiva building and on a nearby school window.

This is offensive to the Jewish community, as it reminds them of the Nazis and antisemitism happening in New York City. 

“The vandalism of the Yeshiva is just another reminder that anti-Semitism is still with us. Anti-Semitic hate crimes are more common than other hate crimes in America, and it’s only becoming more prevalent,” said Richard Shlayan, a resident of Brighton Beach and part of the Jewish community, in an interview.

Currently, the NYPD is looking for the suspect, and surveillance video shows him fleeing the scene on a bike towards Avenue S. 

This offended the community, so the following day there was a heavy security presence in the area. Men who identified as security were patrolling while kids were still in school, as well as McDonald Park across the street. 

This has prompted newly elected mayor Zohran Mamdani to speak out on X.“This is a disgusting and heartbreaking act of antisemitism, and it has no place in our beautiful city. As Mayor, I will always stand steadfast with our Jewish neighbors to root the scourge of anti-Semitism out of our city,” said Mamdani.

According to the Anti-Defamation League, in 2024, there were a total of 976 incidents of Jewish Hate, and in Brooklyn, there were 253 incidents. The organization is also concerned about the severity of incidents across the city. 

William Colton, Assemblymember of District 47, put out a press release stating, “I am confident that the culprits who committed their shameful acts in the dark of night will be identified, arrested, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. But, we must go further to ensure the safety and peace of mind of all of our religious and ethnic communities,” said Colton.

As of the writing of this article, no arrests have been made. Currently, the Yeshiva has not made any public statement. 

The Jewish community is still doubtful of the future steps the government could take to combat hate speech.“Our government and institutions have failed to combat this crisis, if they’re even trying,” said Shlayan.

The number of animals entering shelters has been increasing, so Petco has partnered with several animal welfare organizations to host adoption events. On September 6, they brought dogs and cats for adoption to Bensonhurst. 

As of June 2025, approximately 2.8 million cats and dogs were entering animal shelters annually in the United States, according to data from the Shelter Animal Count. This influx has led to significant overcrowding, particularly in urban areas like New York City, where some shelters have been forced to stop accepting new animals due to capacity limitations.

The Animal Care Center of NYC (ACC), a non-profit organization, faced a challenge in July 2025, when its animal population exceeded 1,000, leading to what ACC called “a capacity challenge.” ACC reported more than 600 animals surrendered by their owners in June 2025.

Despite this, the group is still accepting new animals into its shelters. Furthermore, ACC is expanding with a new shelter location in the Bronx scheduled to open by late 2025. But the ACC’s primary goal is “to end animal homelessness,” according to an ACC coordinator. 

The ACC regularly organizes adoption events across different parts of New York City, collaborating with numerous other animal rescue organizations. Furthermore, ACC has established a partnership with Petco, allowing it to showcase adoptable animals at select Petco stores. 

Petco’s Bensonhurst location frequently hosts adoption events, providing a place for different organizations to showcase animals in need of homes. Key organizations that have participated in these events at the Bensonhurst store include Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC), Pup Start Rescue, See Spot Rescued (SSR), and Best Friends Animal Society. 

The event is designed to provide prospective adopters with an understanding of the responsibilities and emotional aspects of pet adoption, ensuring that they are prepared to provide a lifelong, caring home for the animal they choose to adopt. The adoption process typically begins with a thorough interview about expectations of adopting a pet. Organizations prioritize understanding an applicant’s history with pets, their current living situation, and their approach to caring for the animal. Once the initial assessment is complete, applicants will then be required to provide identification and pay an adoption fee before they can take their new pet home. 

The rate at which pets are surrendered by their owners to shelters remains high. A recent case highlighting this issue involves a dog named Coco. Coco was surrendered by her owner, though the specific reasons behind this decision are unknown.  

A volunteer from the ACC, Jake, observed Coco’s gentleness with other humans, noting that she would be an ideal companion for an owner, capable of“just to sit on their lap and watch TV. It’s like a companion.” Jake said.

During this event, there were lots of cats and dogs waiting to be adopted. There were several types of animals to choose from, both big and small. The volunteers helped out the community by letting people take out the dogs for a walk, petting or playing around with the cats.

Despite many animals creating a busy and sometimes challenging environment, the staff genuinely seemed to enjoy caring for them and strongly encouraged continued adoption. 

Tasha, who preferred not to give his last name, is a current mobile adoption coordinator and travels across the city to ensure that every animal’s basic needs are met. 

“I think this is what leads to like our capacity challenges, is […] if we overpopulate with cats, we can put pop-up crates in a room and double our capacity. For example, in like certain rooms with dogs, it’s not an easy solution because you can’t just throw six dogs in an area or without being very deliberate about who it is.” Tasha explained. 

Patriotic feeling was in the air at a Veterans Day event at the Federation of Italian Organizations of Brooklyn (FIAO) in Bath Beach. Officials who came out were Council Member Susan Zhuang of District 43 and Assembly Member William Colton, who honored local veterans on November 12th. 

Forty-five veterans attended the event at FIAO, representing many branches of the military, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard. 

Many were very excited to talk to the officials and make a personal connection with the people who run the area. The veterans got thank-you cards from children at P.S. 186.

Susan Zhuang says, “It was an honor to join Assemblyman Colton in recognizing the veterans who have served our community with such courage and commitment. Honoring their services is important, but matching that respect with real action is even more important.” She promised to keep working with her colleagues to expand and improve benefits and services, and to ensure South Brooklyn won’t be overlooked. 

The ceremony opened with Deacon Anthony Mammoliti of St. Dominic’s Roman Catholic Church, who began with a prayer. Deacon Anthony was an army veteran himself who was recognized for his decades of service. The ceremony ended with another prayer from Iman Ahmed Ali of IQRA Masjid, a community non-profit. 

Another local official, Assemblyman William Colton, reminded everyone in the room about the importance of Veterans Day. “Each one of them put their life on to serve the American people, supported by their families, who make sacrifices every day so they can answer the call of duty… These ceremonies are meant to remind everyone of the important role veterans have played in the life of our country. No words can express our gratitude for all they have given and continue to give. We need to provide for our veterans. We need to make sure the government works for you.” 

The long-awaited reopening of the Gerritsen Beach Public Library has been pushed back to Dec. 11 due to construction delays, nearly a month after its previously scheduled Nov. 12 return. The branch has been closed since July 15, 2024 for an extensive capital project aimed at modernizing aging infrastructure across the Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) system. 

The BPL website was updated last week with the new date, attributing the delay to the final stages of construction, stating, “it’s taking a little longer than expected to put the finishing touches on the renovated branch.”

The closure is part of a wider, system-level rebuilding effort managed in collaboration with the city’s Department of Design and Construction (DDC). With a city and state capital budget, BPL has $240 million to spend for reconstruction on a third of its libraries. The renovations can take much longer than necessary because of their costs and management, as stated by the NYC Comptroller Brad Lander. According to DDC estimates, the project could take up to three years to complete, though the Gerritsen Beach location had expected to reopen ahead of schedule. 

To fill the gap left by the closure, BPL has relied on Bookmobile visits and events taking place online or at other libraries to maintain a presence in the neighborhood.

Marisa Kuras, the library’s assistant branch manager, spoke about the project at a Community Board 15 meeting on Oct. 28th, offering insight to the maintenance and to discuss the reopening day plan. 

“Gerritsen Beach Library closed for a necessary repair for the roof, the facade, and our community rooms,” said Kuras. “And for the last sixteen months our staff have been performing outreach in the community. But our patrons always let us know how much they miss their library and how excited they were for when we reopen.”

Despite the frustrations surrounding the extended timeline, BPL officials say it will be worth the wait. In a Nov. 15 update posted online, the library said it was “thrilled to welcome patrons back to a renovated branch featuring a new roof, ceilings, lighting, furniture, plus a dedicated children’s area and a brand-new teen space.”

If the Dec. 11 date sticks, the reopening will restore a long-missed community center that has served Gerritsen Beach for nearly a century. 

   With the uncertainty over the park’s future now behind it, Coney Island’s Luna Park concluded its 13th annual Halloween Harvest on  November 2. When the festival opened on September 19, Luna Park still faced looming plans to build a casino on the amusement park’s grounds Then, on September 29th, the Coney Island Community Advisory Committee (CAC)  voted 4-2 to turn down Thor Equities’ plan to build a casino. What could have been the last Halloween Harvest instead became a celebration of the park’s future.

 Voting against the casino were Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, 47th district Council Member Justin Brannan, and CAC member Marissa Solomon. The two votes in favor of the casino came from committee members, Portia Henry and Alex Sommer, who were appointed by Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul, respectively.    

   Real estate developer Thor Equities proposed the casino in 2022 and received both support and pushback from locals, community boards, and senators. If approved, most of the park would have been taken down to make space for the casino and a 32-story hotel,  a 2,500-seat concert venue, meeting and event space, retail and dining establishments, and a public green space. Iconic rides, including the Cyclone, Thunderbolt, and Wonderwheel , would have been spared.

   Local resident Yelena Makhnin opposed the casino plan. “The problem is many people see Coney Island as an amusement area, totally forgetting about the thousands of residents living in the area,” she said. 

   The main selling point for the casino was that it could transform Coney Island from a summertime attraction to an all-year round one. Jojo Lin is a part-time worker at the family-owned restaurant Ruby’s, which has been a Coney Island boardwalk staple since 1972.  “It would affect my workplace by having more customers come in the off seasons,” Lin said. “Instead of receiving fewer hours and having to find another job during the winter, I can continue working there.”

    The goal of the festival is to garner more foot traffic in the off-season. During fall and winter the park and surrounding area are devoid of a steady crowd. The festival aims to combat this: the park was dressed up with cobwebs and minimal Halloween-related decorations. Pumpkins were scattered around the park along with child-friendly references to horror themes. Workers dressed up in costumes and positioned themselves around the park, waiting to take photos with people.

   This year’s Halloween Harvest featured special Halloween-themed events such as pumpkin decorating, tractor racing, and trick-or-treating. For tractor racing, kids rode tiny tractors on a makeshift hay bale raceway. The winner pf one of the races was grade schooler Liam Heckstall, dressed up as the video game and movie character Sonic. Liam came to the Halloween Harvest with his older brother Asher Heckstall. 

   “I used to come here for Halloween when I was kid, back in 2011. It was scarier back then for sure. I think it’s nice the park is still doing little events for the children even if it is for business purposes, everyone wins at the end of day,” the older brother said. 

In the morning of November 5th, the Magen David Yeshiva on McDonald Ave, in Gravesend, Brooklyn, was graffited with a swastika symbol. It was spray-painted on a fence pillar in front of the Yeshiva building and on a nearby school window.

This is offensive to the Jewish community, as it reminds them of the Nazis and antisemitism happening in New York City. 

“The vandalism of the Yeshiva is just another reminder that anti-Semitism is still with us. Anti-Semitic hate crimes are more common than other hate crimes in America, and it’s only becoming more prevalent,” said Richard Shlayan, a resident of Brighton Beach and part of the Jewish community, in an interview.

Currently, the NYPD is looking for the suspect, and surveillance video shows him fleeing the scene on a bike towards Avenue S. 

This offended the community, so the following day there was a heavy security presence in the area. Men who identified as security were patrolling while kids were still in school, as well as McDonald Park across the street. 

This has prompted newly elected mayor Zohran Mamdani to speak out on X.“This is a disgusting and heartbreaking act of antisemitism, and it has no place in our beautiful city. As Mayor, I will always stand steadfast with our Jewish neighbors to root the scourge of anti-Semitism out of our city,” said Mamdani.

According to the Anti-Defamation League, in 2024, there were a total of 976 incidents of Jewish Hate, and in Brooklyn, there were 253 incidents. The organization is also concerned about the severity of incidents across the city. 

William Colton, Assemblymember of District 47, put out a press release stating, “I am confident that the culprits who committed their shameful acts in the dark of night will be identified, arrested, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. But, we must go further to ensure the safety and peace of mind of all of our religious and ethnic communities,” said Colton.

As of the writing of this article, no arrests have been made. Currently, the Yeshiva has not made any public statement. 

The Jewish community is still doubtful of the future steps the government could take to combat hate speech.“Our government and institutions have failed to combat this crisis, if they’re even trying,” said Shlayan.

At the John Jay Educational Campus in Brooklyn, outgoing Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, who will be the New York City Comptroller, met with voters and volunteers during the Yes on Affordable Housing campaign. The event took place on Election Day, when New Yorkers voted on several city ballot proposals. It included Ballot Questions 2, 3 and 4 which aim to make it easier and faster to build affordable housing in New York City.

As the new Comptroller, Levine said he hopes to invest 1% of the city’s $315 billion in pension fund assets to help pay for affordable housing.

Levine spoke about the housing-related ballot proposals, which he described as a chance to “fix inequality” in how housing is approved across neighborhoods. “Right now, if a community has enough money or influence, they can stop housing development,” he said. “They hire lawyers, they sue and they often win. We need a new system.”

In New York City, every large construction project has to go through a long public process known as the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure, or ULURP. The process gives local community boards and City Council members the power to review, delay, or block new housing proposals. Levine explained that wealthier neighborhoods often use this system to resist affordable housing by hiring attorneys, consultants, or lobbyists to oppose new developments.

As a result, poorer neighborhoods end up with most of the city’s affordable housing, while wealthier ones remain out of reach for lower-income residents. Levine said the housing proposals would help change that by streamlining approvals and focusing new projects in areas that have built the fewest homes. He described them as “a chance to end that era” of stalled development. Levine said, “It will make it harder to kill affordable housing projects and help create more balance across the city.”

At the Brooklyn site, volunteers with Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani’s campaign spoke about the housing issue.

Matthew Comeau, a volunteer who came from Washington, D.C., said, “This city is too expensive, bottom line. Affordable housing should mean that most of your income doesn’t go to rent.” 

Another volunteer, Karen Ho, shared her view as a former international student. “There’s a misconception that all international students are rich,” she said. “Affordable housing helped me stay in New York and start my career.”

Levine said the city needs to focus on truly affordable rent for all income levels. He pointed to a project in Inwood that combined a rebuilt library with 172 affordable apartments, some costing as little as $680 a month. “It proves that housing can be affordable if we put in the effort,” he said.

Levine hopes the new measure, if approved, will lead to half a million new apartments over the next decade.“If we do this right,” he said, “young New Yorkers won’t have to win a lottery just to live in their own city.

While many in New York City welcome the new mayoral administration with optimism, some young residents of Gerritsen Beach did not vote in the election, citing a lack of time, limited information, and doubts that the new leader will actually uphold promises. 

Even though youth turnout citywide climbed in 2025, with about 19% of eligible voters aged 18-29 casting ballots on Election Day compared to 11.1% in 2021, some young voters still haven’t made it a priority. Amanda Curran, 21, voted in the primaries but didn’t make it to the general election.

“I just planned my time super poorly and unfortunately couldn’t get out there in time,” said Curran.

This comes after reports that this year’s mayoral race made history, breaking NYC non-presidential early voting records. Over the nine-day period, more than 700,000 New Yorkers cast their ballots ahead of Election Day. Brooklyn also saw the largest early-voting check-in figures, reflecting strong participation across the borough. Despite that, some young voters with opinions in Gerritsen Beach still didn’t take it to the polls.

“If I did vote, it would have been for Mamdani,” said Curran. “NYC as a whole has become way too unaffordable for a great percentage of people.”

Christopher Carbone, 21, also did not vote in this election. Like many across the city, social media influenced his thoughts on the race. Over half of people aged 18-29 find social media important for them getting involved, according to a survey from the Pew Research Center. 

“I didn’t really know much surrounding the election, mainly what I saw online like Mamdani is a communist and Curtis got shot in the subway and Cuomo is corrupt,” said Carbone. “I probably would have voted for Mamdani because he is the youngest and Cuomo has failed the city before.”

Carbone said he was drawn to the candidacy of Zohran Mamdani because of his proposals to make rent more affordable and improve transportation, but added, “I doubt anything will change.”

This was a common line of reasoning for young people in Gerritsen Beach. Several other residents aged 25 and younger liked what Mamdani was promising, but didn’t feel the need to actually vote for it to happen. Instead, they only showed a passive type of support, cheering on from the sidelines rather than get involved directly. 

This skepticism in Gerritsen Beach reflects a broader political challenge of finding and maintaining trust in the people who are supposed to lead and their proposed policies. 

As college application deadlines loom, Brooklyn high schoolers are preparing for the next steps in higher education.

Governor Kathy Hochul announced on October 6 that close to 130 colleges across New York State would waive application fees in October as part of College Applications Month (CAM) for the third consecutive year. 

This initiative aims to assist high school seniors as they pursue higher education and tackle financial challenges. This includes all of the City University of New York (CUNY) and State University of New York (SUNY), as well as about 50 private colleges and universities. 

“College Application Month is about breaking down barriers and helping every student take that critical first step toward college success,” said Hochul on the NYS official website press release.

CUNY is waiving application fees from October 27-November 21 for NYC students and November 10-21 for out-of-NYC students. SUNY waives fees October 20-November for up to five applications per student. Private colleges and universities offer varying waiver periods. Application fees typically range from $50 to $90. 

“I think this is a good incentive to help low income students get more opportunities,” said Giselle Rodriguez, a Brooklyn College senior.

CUNY saw a positive impact on enrollment rates from its fall 2024 fee waiver initiatives, which helped the university system recover from declines during the pandemic. According to CUNY News, “During the free application period, the University received a record 55,050 applications, an increase of 62% from last year’s period. Overall, applications to CUNY were up 13% year-over-year.”

Although fee waivers eliminate application costs, students still face tuition expenses. “I personally believe you shouldn’t have to pay to go to college.” said Janiah Taylor, a CUNY K16 Initiatives Program Associate for college and career advising and a graduate of CUNY. “That tactic has never made sense to me and I think it blocks a lot of opportunities for different students.” K16 Initiatives is a partnership between CUNY and New York City Public Schools (NYCPS), where students can apply to their programs, supporting a smooth transition to college and early college education and environment. 

Despite the challenge of paying tuition, CAM still gives students an opportunity to take the first step in applying to college.  “College Application Month sends a clear message: college is within reach,” said Lola W. Brabham, President of Commission on the Independent Colleges and Universities in the NYS official website’s press release.

The new “Shifting Seasons” exhibit at the Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning (JCAL) explores themes of transformation and reflection in a time of constant change. Curated by 

Alex Z., the founder and creative director of the Brooklyn Art Cave (BAC), the exhibition opened on Oct. 17 and showcases a diverse group of artists and media. 

“Curating ‘Shifting Seasons’ was both a creative and emotional process. The concept came from reflecting on change — how artists, spaces, and communities evolve, just like the seasons,” said Z. 

Founded in 1972, JCAL is a multidisciplinary arts center in the heart of southeastern Queens. It offers programming and events focused on visual arts, performing arts, and arts education. The organization serves as a space of community and celebrates the borough’s diversity. 

“JCAL’s mission as an organization is really centered around its role as a pivotal creative and cultural anchor in Queens,” said Njari Anderson, Visual Arts Programming Associate at JCAL. 

JCAL aims to be an accessible institution. Along with a rotation of exhibitions and performances at the Jamaica Performing Arts Center (JPAC), JCAL’s secondary location, JCAL also offers several dance and visual art classes, including a program called CASA/SU-CASA, which brings JCAL’s resources to schools and senior centers in Queens, including Zumba workshops and acting classes.

“This diversity in our programming wasn’t accidental: we wear our pride in Queen’s diversity on our sleeves,” said Anderson. “When we consider programming, we have to think from the perspectives of the incredibly diverse community we serve. This diversity isn’t only reflected culturally, it’s also reflected across age groups and various states of able-bodiedness, and our acknowledgement of that allows us to intrinsically operate from a place where accessibility is not an afterthought; it is the core of what we do and how we program.”

“Shifting Seasons,” as an exhibition, promotes reflection in both the artist involved and the community viewing it. The exhibit is a collaboration between JCAL and BAC. 

“It bridges two creative communities — Brooklyn and Queens — and highlights the importance of collaboration, continuity, and cultural exchange,” Z. said. Shifting Seasons feels like both a celebration of what we’ve built and a preview of what’s next.”

Above all, the exhibition showcases the artistry and community present in both BAC and JCAL. Z was able to find artists from the show through open calls, personal recommendations, and even sought out artists who previously collaborated with BAC and JCAL. The inspiration for the project came as BAC is going through its own time of change, with its current location in Bedford-Stuyvesant closing. 

The show featured artists from several different backgrounds, like Elainne Diaz from the Dominican Republic, who uses clay to explore “organic forms inspired by nature and womanhood.” Her piece, “Alma Sconce,” is a ceramic flower with a ball of light directly in the center. It heavily resembles a clam with a pearl inside, creating a comparison between different forms of nature, but showcasing that there is a light that resides at the center of it all. Another work of hers, “Protector of Light,” also exemplifies this idea, as a dark glass flower that can double as a lamp, with the purpose of holding a showcasing the light despite the dark exterior. 

“ ‘Shifting Seasons’ to me symbolizes the continual cycle of change, renewal, and growth. Just like nature, we experience phases of stillness and bloom, endings and beginnings. My work reflects this rhythm of transformation, illustrating how, like flowers and plants, we too adapt, shed, and evolve into new forms of being,” said Diaz. 

Christopher M. Liatsis, a Brooklyn-based painter and illustrator, also pulled from nature as a source of inspiration. “Flower of Time” employs a combination of pink, purple, and orange to create a valley of trees that look like they’re floating in the air. The piece is an almost intergalactic perspective of nature that could be slipping away, forcing us to reconsider what is important and worth holding onto. 

“Shifting Seasons feels like a meditation on transition and awareness—the delicate balance between what we hold onto and what we must release,” said Liatsis. “My work speaks to that through contrasts in color, texture, and light, reflecting both the turbulence and beauty of change. Each piece captures a moment between stillness and motion, much like how the natural world transforms without losing its essence.” 

Along with all the pieces on display, the gallery featured a literal reflective wall, with a sign stating, “Take a breath. What are you ready to release? Release it onto the reflection.” The wall allowed visitors to write down emotions, habits, and situations they were ready to release themselves from. The display makes the exhibit all the more introspective, prompting viewers to interact with the change in the artwork presented, while creating change in themselves. 

“The layout was designed to guide visitors through two distinct yet connected experiences: Transformation, filled with bold color and expressive movement, and Reflection, a serene space that invites calm and contemplation,” said Z. 

“Shifting Seasons” is informative, interactive, and inspirational. It allows for a deep reflection of what transformation looks like through the eyes of others, while exploring how change can look within ourselves. The exhibition also showcases JCAL’s ability to bring artistry to a community bursting with creativity without limits or restrictions. 

“We are here and we listen, but most importantly, we are here for you,” said Anderson. “We’re constantly working towards being a better organization, a better team, a better community, cultural, and creative anchor, and that’s because everyone here has an immense belief in what we do and the impact and importance it is in being Queens’s creative hub.” 

The delayed reconstruction of a pedestrian bridge over the Belt Parkway is drawing outrage from the Bath Beach community because the delay limits access to the New York Harbor waterfront for the entire neighborhood. 

The bridge was closed in 2021 and was then demolished in 2022. The project was supposed to be completed in the fall of 2023, but not much progress has been made. The completion of the project has since been pushed to mid-2026, according to State Assemblymember William Colton, who represents District 47, including Bath Beach and surrounding neighborhoods.

“The Bridge was closed in 2021 for what was supposed to be a 27-month-long project.  It’s now 2025, and not only have they not reopened the bridge, its completion is now delayed till at least mid-2026, which is very simply unacceptable,” said Colton.

The 17th Avenue Bridge crosses over the Belt Parkway, starting at Shore Road and 17th Avenue and terminating at the waterfront path, while getting views of Gravesend Bay. 

The delay affects the community, as residents may need to take an additional 20 or 30 minutes to even get access to the waterfront. They must walk all the way to another neighborhood, either Bensonhurst or Bay Ridge. 

The construction of the bridge could be compared to the time it took to build the Verrazzano Bridge. It took approximately five years to complete, from August 1959 to November 1964. That bridge is nearly a mile long and spans all of New York Harbor, connecting Staten Island to Brooklyn. The 17th Avenue Bridge is approximately a few hundred feet long.

The waterfront is a community space for people to walk, run, or bike that passes under the Verrazzano Bridge. 

“This is so outrageous, I really miss walking the waterfront, as I have been walking there since I was a young kid. This shouldn’t take that long to reconstruct the bridge, as from what I see, there’s no progress at all, so what am I going to do?” said Janett Romero, a resident who has lived in Bath Beach for over 15 years. 

Gerritsen Beach community members filled the Knights of Columbus backyard for the organization’s annual Oktoberfest, celebrating tradition and charity with food, music, and plenty of local spirit on Oct. 18.  

Originally a 19th century Bavarian wedding celebration, Oktoberfest has evolved into a global festival of German culture and beer. Some of the kids dressed in costumes, emulating traditional German clothing. Older members helped contribute to the event through food, connecting it to the holiday’s roots. 

“We’ve got quite a few German members that like to cook the spaetzle for the occasion,” said Knights of Columbus Council 5989 President Jim Breslin. “Other members were on the grill making burgers, and bratwurst, and hotdogs, and we had a few German beers.”

For $5 at the door, attendees were entered into a raffle for a prize while enjoying live music from local DJ Mike Combat. The event, once held in the fields across from the Knights’ clubhouse, has found a new home in the organization’s recently renovated backyard.  

“The Parks Department didn’t really like the field thing anymore so we decided to take it on and bring it back to our place,” said Breslin. “Since the recent renovation of the backyard, it’s become quite a success.”

As with most of the Knights’ events, Oktoberfest had a charitable purpose. The organization, known for its steady support of neighborhood causes, regularly raises funds that go back into the community. Recently, the Knights donated trophies for the Dan 5K Fun Run/Walk For Cancer in honor of former member Dan Foster, and continue to sponsor other local initiatives throughout the year. 

“Charity, Unity, Fraternity, Patriotism,” explains Breslin. “It’s the four words that mean a lot to the people of this little community of the Knights of Columbus.”

This year, Oktoberfest will help fund the Knights’ Christmas festivities. They host an annual party, which is open to all kids in the neighborhood regardless of whether their parents are affiliated with the Knights. 

“Most of the proceeds for this are going to go to Christmas for the kids,” said Cathy Hynes, a Ladies Auxiliary member of the Knights of Columbus, who ran the 50/50 raffle. “We buy all the kids in the community gifts.”

For many, the event is as much about community as it is about celebration. People come from all over Brooklyn to participate in the Gerritsen Beach Oktoberfest because of the good company. 

“I like the camaraderie here,” said Margaret Sullivan, who traveled from Windsor Terrace to attend. “Everybody gets together, and everyone’s always so friendly and outgoing. Even though I’m an outsider, everyone’s always so welcoming to me.”

Lasting all afternoon into the evening, the festival remains a cherished event in the community, uniting people for both a good time and a charitable cause. 

“It’s more tradition than anything, you’ve got a beautiful time of year where the colors are changing, and just to get people out and hanging out with each other,” said Breslin. “I believe it’s just autumn itself.”