Latest news with #AntonioReynoso
Time Out
05-08-2025
- General
- Time Out
This is officially the greenest, most beautiful block in all of Brooklyn
Brooklyn has spoken—or, more accurately, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden has—and crowned the 2025 Greenest Block in Brooklyn. That picturesque title officially goes to Eastern Parkway between Franklin and Bedford Avenues, where flower-filled sidewalks, lush street tree beds and a whole lot of neighborly TLC have created an urban oasis worthy of borough-wide bragging rights. Announced at a press conference held today along the winning stretch, the award marks a first in the contest's nearly 30-year history: A block built predominantly of apartment buildings has taken home top honors. Translation? You don't need a brownstone stoop or sprawling front yard to go green—you just need committed residents and a knack for turning concrete into paradise. The Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest, a project of Brooklyn Botanic Garden and the office of Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso (with National Grid as major sponsor), is more than a beauty pageant for plants. It's about sustainable gardening, street tree stewardship and good old-fashioned community spirit. This year, more than 100 blocks threw their trowels into the ring, representing neighborhoods from Downtown Brooklyn to Flatlands and Bay Ridge to East New York, with stops in Flatbush, Clinton Hill, Bed-Stuy, Crown Heights and Park Slope along the way. An expert panel of judges—BBG staff, trustees and local horticulture pros—fanned out across the borough, taking in window boxes bursting with blooms, storefronts dripping in greenery and community garden streetscapes so verdant you'd swear you'd stumbled into the countryside. Beyond the big win, other 2025 honorifics include Greenest Storefront, Best Street Tree Beds, Best Community Garden Streetscape, Best Window Box and Rookie of the Year. It's no small feat: In a city where space is at a premium and summer heat can scorch even the hardiest petunia, winning takes serious coordination. On Eastern Parkway's winning block, we can only assume that meant synchronized planting days and vigilant street-tree care through July heat waves. It turns out the payoff isn't just prettier sidewalks—it's also stronger bonds with your neighbors.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Brooklyn Borough President pushes for $5 million to combat deed theft
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11) — Community leaders and City Council members rallied to increase funding and awareness to end predatory lending and deed theft. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso is calling on the City Council to allocate $5 million in next year's budget. More Local News Since 2014, nearly 3,500 complaints of deed theft have been reported. Almost half the victims, often seniors, come from Black and brown communities in Brooklyn. The hope is that city funding can help educate homeowners from falling victim to predatory lenders and help those who already have, with the crushing legal expenses. Advocates want the City Council to also consider lifting the statute of limitations for deed theft that occurred years ago and can't be challenged in court. The efforts targeting deed theft at the city level will bolster efforts currently being made at the state level. The aim is to shut down predatory deed theft and keep vulnerable New Yorkers in their homes. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New Yorkers rally for expanded Fair Fares subway discount eligibility
NEW YORK CITY (PIX11) – Eligibility for half-priced subway discounts should be expanded to include people making under $31,300 per year, elected officials say. The city's Fair Fares program offers discounted subway and bus fares to low-income New Yorkers. The program was expected to expand in early 2025 to include all locals making 145% of the federal poverty level, or $22,692 per year for a single person. A family of four would need to make under $46,617 to qualify. More Local News On Monday, advocates and elected officials are holding a rally at City Hall to say the program should expand to include New Yorkers making up to 200% of the federal poverty level. The new eligibility would include a single New Yorker making $31,300, a family of two making $42,300 and a family of three making $53,300. This expansion would mean 415,000 more New Yorkers could get the discount, including many who work minimum-wage jobs, according to the MTA's Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee. Advocates have long called for the 200% eligibility bar. In November, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and Borough President Antonio Reynoso joined a rally at City Hall calling for the expansion. At the time, a spokesperson for the Department of Social Services told PIX11 the department would need to review the previous expansion to 145% of the federal poverty line before considering another. Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter who has covered New York City since 2023 after reporting in Los Angeles for years. She joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
