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New York Post

Bed-Stuy aquarium returns – reigniting fish abuse concerns

This could turn into a Bed-Stuy fish fry. A viral sidewalk 'aquarium' that won over the Big Apple last summer has reemerged, The Post has learned – and animal advocates are already sweating in fear that the little swimmers will sizzle in this heat wave. 5 A viral sidewalk 'aquarium' that captured the awe of New Yorkers last summer has reemerged after its founder was sentenced to 12 years in prison for attempted murder in January, The Post has learned. Gregory P. Mango Advertisement A glass tank of about a dozen goldfish was planted in a tree pit Saturday, an aquarium caretaker told The Post, next to the pond's original site — a founder was sentenced to 12 years in prison on unrelated attempted murder charges in January — a now-filled in water hydrant puddle near Tompkins Avenue and Hancock Street. But animal advocates say it isn't just fishy – it's downright cruel, especially with New York under a state of emergency thanks to a record-breaking scorcher that is set to bring Gotham to a boil this week. 'This project continues to be an inappropriate way to house fish,' veterinarian Benjamin Rosenbloom, founder of New York City-based Wet Pet Vet, told The Post. 'I suspect on some level it may be a grift for donations and/or attention. Advertisement 5 Animal advocates say the practice isn't just fishy – it's downright cruel, especially as New York is under a state of emergency for a heat wave set to boil Gotham this week. Gregory P. Mango 'At the very least, it is not acceptable for the welfare of the animals housed there.' Since the makeshift aquarium is so small, Rosenbloom said exposure to the sun could elevate water temperatures to deadly levels — resulting in less available dissolved oxygen for the fish. 'In this current heatwave they most certainly will die. It will be a painful death,' said Kathy Nizzari, founder of the animal welfare group Lights Out Coalition. Advertisement 5 A fish tank at the intersection of Tompkins Avenue and Hancock Street in Bedford-Stuyvesant. Gregory P. Mango The group is urging the pond's caretakers to move the fish 'indoors' to create a 'proper environment.' John Di Leonardo, executive director of Humane Long Island, called the confinement — heat wave or not — 'cruel' and 'teaches children all the wrong lessons.' But the pond's co-founder, Je-Quan Irving, maintains the 'community is backing us,' and said he has no plans of slowing down — despite the allegations. Advertisement 'I'm just happy they wanted us to keep pushing through and have it come back,' Irving, 49, said. His fellow founder, Hajj Malik Lovick — convicted of attempted murder, assault and gun charges for shooting a man outside the Lover's Rock bar in Bedford-Stuyvesant in 2023 — is also 'all for it' behind bars, Irving said, and is watching over the pond via a bizarre life-sized cardboard cutout. 5 Hajj Malik Lovick, an aquarium co-founder, pictured in 2024. Gregory P. Mango The original iteration of the aquarium – the result of water from a leaky hydrant pooling into a one-inch tree pit – was raided by the FDNY and cemented over by the city last year, organizers said at the time. But the latest version is up to code, Irving claims. 5 A new deli at the corner of Tompkins Avenue and Hancock Street recently opened, named the 'Aquarium Deli Food.' Gregory P. Mango 'There's a fish tank and that's pretty much the way we are going to be now … we couldn't go back in the ground because they were worried about if we were cutting any plants,' Irving, a Triple A roadside worker, said citing concerns of several city agencies. 'They told us we can set it up, it just can't be underground.' 'I'm going to be adding some reefs, some plants inside the aquarium,' he added. 'I'm going to do some lighting. I'm going to decorate all around the tree itself with more plants.' Advertisement Irving also plans, he said, to consult marine biologists to determine what other fish he can add to the burgeoning aquatic community. 'I remember seeing it the first time and its couple of different iterations … it definitely did some community building,' Bed-Stuy local Kristen Kainer, 51, reflected on the previous project. 'The other one was more dynamic, bigger and creative,' Kainer added, noting she's still 'glad it's something that's back up.' Advertisement Another Bed-Stuy local Calvin, 48, Fed Ex employee, called the new neighborhood attraction — which now touts its own Google Maps listing and is the namesake of the new Aquarium Deli down the street — a 'beautiful thing.' 'The kids love it,' the Fed Ex employee said. 'I just hope it becomes a good thing like it was [before].'