Park Slope Reader

Lauren Hartley

All Politics is Local

By Filed Under: Politiki

**Article came out in summer issue prior to the primary**

Polls show that currently, former Governor Andrew Cuomo is in the lead for the mayoral primary — drawing support mainly from his name recognition, popularity with voters over 45, and his position as a more moderate, establishment Democrat, in opposition to some of the more leftist candidates on the ticket.

One of these candidates is democratic socialist Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, who is polling in second place behind Cuomo. Mamdani is a revolutionary candidate for many reasons. Even just his name, Zohran Kwame Mamdani, distinguishes him from three of his leading competitors, Eric Adams, Brad Lander, and Andrew Cuomo.

If elected, Mamdani, 33, would be the youngest Mayor of New York City since Hugh J. Grant was elected in 1888 at the age of 31. 

Mamdani would also be the first Muslim mayor in New York, at a time when religion has become divisive even in local politics due to the Gaza war. New York City is home to the largest Jewish population outside of Israel. 

His identity aside, Mamdani most notably stands out for his bold vision for the city. He’s proposing a rent freeze, free universal childcare, fast and no-fare buses, city-owned grocery stores, and the transformation of vacant retail spaces in the subway into hubs in which homeless people can receive services.  

Cuomo and Mamdani’s campaign strategies could not differ more — Mamdani is everywhere. He’s riding the subway, he’s showing up to mayoral forums, he’s at places of worship, and he’s meeting with community groups. Cuomo, on the other hand, is hard to find. The New York Times reports his campaign strategy is to intentionally limit public appearances and confrontation. He’s running on either the same “collective amnesia” that voters had when voting for Donald Trump, or the hope that those who remember his crimes see him through rose-colored glasses, placing greater weight on their Covid era memory of him as “America’s Governor.” 

Mamdani, who has gained a lot of attention for his social media content — including being characterized as a “TikTok Savant” by the New York Times — wants New Yorkers to know his campaign goes farther than social media. 

“I think it’s tempting to characterize our campaign as solely being online, given the strength of our digital communication,” Mamdani tells The Park Slope Reader in a phone interview. “But the truth of it is that we are in second place in this race because we are everywhere where New Yorkers are. We are online when they open their phones, but we’re also at their door having knocked on 430,000 doors. We’re also on their phone, having made more than 100,000 phone calls. And we’re also at their houses of worship, their subway stations and their streets — because ultimately, New Yorkers deserve a mayor that hustles as hard as they do. They deserve a mayor who is looking to meet them where they are, as opposed to asking them to come to City Hall to engage with politics. Politics must be something that actually comes to you, and that’s what we’re seeking to do over the course of this campaign.” 

In city council district 39 (the district which includes Park Slope) another contentious local battle is brewing. First time candidate Maya Kornberg is challenging incumbent City Council Member Shahana Hanif. Their religious identities have been galvanizing to voters and Super PACs. Kornberg, a Brennan Center researcher is Jewish, and Hanif was the first Muslim woman elected to city council. 

Both Hanif and Mamdani recognize affordability as one of the greatest crises facing New Yorkers today. Maya Kornberg’s team did not respond to requests for comment. 

“My outlook on affordable housing is that far too many working class people, working families are leaving our city as a result of being unable to afford rent, unable to afford childcare, and they’re not seeing raises in their salaries,” Councilmember Hanif said in a phone interview.  “And just the cost of living here is so high. And one way to address that displacement is to build affordable housing.” 

Hanif is trying to push for more affordable housing by co-sponsoring the Fair Act to end brokers fees in June and recently secured 100 affordable units in Windsor Terrace.

Mamdani also sees affordability as one of the most pressing issues facing New Yorkers.

“The decision to run is a decision rooted in love of the city and a recognition that this city is becoming more and more out of reach for the very people who make it so special,” Mamdani says about his decision to run for mayor. “I think it’s a source of frustration for many New Yorkers of just how the economic policies of not only this administration, but politics today have left them behind. We desperately need a politics that does more than just ask people to celebrate the crumbs with which they can’t even feed their family. A politics that is actually fighting for something and that it is reflective of the crises that are most impacting working-class New Yorkers, chief of which is affordability.” 

And finally, Mamdani appreciates the support he’s gotten from the residents of Park Slope.

“I would say that the first [thing to say to residents of Park Slope] is that Park Slope is a big part of the reason why we are currently in second place in the mayoral race,” Mamdani says. “More than 600 of our donors come from Park Slope and we’ve had thousands more who have been volunteering with us over the course of this race. And we’ve currently built a volunteer team of close to 20,000 people who have knocked on more than 430,000 doors.” 

All Politics is Local

By Filed Under: Community, Park Slope Life

New York City’s 2025 Mayoral Primary: What You Need to Know

On June 24, New York City voters will head to the polls for the Democratic mayoral primary, a crucial contest that will likely determine the city’s next mayor. With Democrats’ strong majority hold in the city, the winner of the primary will be the frontrunner in November’s general election. 

Why This Election Matters

The mayor of New York City leads the nation’s most populous city, overseeing policies that impact millions of residents and often influencing the governance of other cities nationally and globally. The position comes with enormous responsibilities—shaping economic policy, public safety, housing, and infrastructure—all with great capacity to affect the daily lives of New Yorkers.

How Ranked-Choice Voting Works

In New York City, primaries use ranked-choice voting, allowing voters to rank up to five candidates in order of preference. However, there is no penalty for just voting for one candidate. If you do rank your top five choices, your vote is counted for your top choice first. If no candidate wins more than 50 percent of the vote, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated. Ballots for that candidate then transfer to voters’ next-ranked choices. This process continues in rounds until one candidate secures a majority.

A Look at New York City’s Recent Influential Mayors

New York City’s past mayors have shaped the city in significant ways. Here’s a brief overview of some of the most notable:

Fiorello La Guardia (1934-1946). In his obituary in The Guardian, La Guardia is described as “the most remarkable mayor of a great city in American history.” Born to an Italian father, when he became mayor he had climbed higher on the political ladder than any other Italian-American. He was considered a “New Dealer” — a politician who avidly supported New Deal policies — and was successful in his vision of boosting the economy, creating jobs, and expanding infrastructure in New York. His legacy includes La Guardia Airport and Flushing Meadows Park. La Guardia presciently recognized the dangers of Nazi Germany and used his platform to criticize Hitler before World War II, so much so that the U.S. Secretary of State apologized for his remarks to the Nazi government.

Ed Koch (1978-1989). Outspoken and combative, Koch was both a beloved and divisive figure. When he became mayor, New York City was suffering from urban decay and Koch launched initiatives to revitalize abandoned housing, clean up public spaces, and transform Times Square from a crime-ridden intersection into a family friendly destination. A champion of the middle class, he prioritized white-collar job growth but was unpopular among Black and LGBTQ New Yorkers. His administration’s slow response to the AIDS crisis, closure of Sydenham Hospital in Harlem, and cuts to anti-poverty programs led to lasting resentment. His frayed relationship with Black voters ultimately paved the way for David Dinkins to become the city’s first Black mayor.

Rudy Giuliani (1994-2001). Giuliani was the only mayor in the twentieth century to lose Manhattan but still win office. He is best remembered for his leadership after the 9/11 attacks, earning him the nickname “America’s Mayor” and Time magazine’s Person of the Year. Crime rates fell during his mayorship, attributed to both his tough policing strategies and the simultaneous economic and demographic shifts that were happening nationally. It seemed possible that Giuliani might break the New York City mayoral curse of never reaching a higher office when he became President Trump’s personal lawyer. But some things just don’t wash out.

Michael Bloomberg (2002-2013). A billionaire businessman, Bloomberg took a pragmatic, value-driven approach to governance, accepting only a $1 salary as mayor. A staunch advocate of public health, he banned smoking in bars and parks, required fast food restaurants to show calories counts, and cracked down on the illegal sale of firearms. His rezoning of about 40% of the city increased housing and development, but also gentrification. While his policies made the city more attractive to the middle class, homelessness surged by two-thirds from 2002 to 2011. Bloomberg was criticized for his support of the stop and frisk tactic used by NYPD that disproportionately hurt Black and Latino men. He later apologized for supporting the practice.

Eric Adams (2022–present). Whether reelected or not, Adams will go down in history as the only sitting New York City mayor to be indicted.

Who’s Running in the 2025 Mayoral Race?

As of now, several candidates have declared their candidacy:

Eric Adams — Incumbent mayor

Andrew Cuomo — Former governor

Brad Lander — City comptroller

Zellnor Myrie — Brooklyn state senator

Zohran Mamdani — Queens state representative

Scott Stringer — Former city comptroller

Jessica Ramos — Queens state senator

Adrienne Adams — N.Y.C. council speaker

After months of speculation, Former Gov. Cuomo formally entered the race on March 1. With name recognition from his decade as governor, he is expected to be a frontrunner. While governor, he accomplished infrastructure improvement, the legalization of same sex marriage and marijuana, and became an Emmy winner and household name nationally for his daily Covid-19 briefings, referred to by some as “communal therapy sessions.”

Cuomo’s reputation as “America’s Governor” was quickly tarnished after its culmination when a report from Attorney General Letitia James showed Cuomo underreported nursing home deaths from Covid-19, after ordering nursing homes to accept residents with Covid-19 to preserve hospital capacity. Shortly after, 11 women came forward, some of them current or former state employees, and accused Cuomo of sexual harassment. He resigned in 2021 despite denying the allegations and since, more than 25 million state taxpayer dollars have been spent paying his legal fees. In 2024, the Department of Justice found Cuomo guilty of sexually harassing 13 women who worked for the state over eight years. 

According to Crain’s New York, Cuomo is trying to position himself as a moderate alternative in contrast to City Comptroller Brad Lander, whom he views as a threat. The Park Slope Reader sat down with Brad Lander, who represented Park Slope in city council for three terms before becoming comptroller.  

Lander, while reliably mild-mannered, fights voraciously for what he wants. He doesn’t resort to verbal attacks or aggression, but his impenetrably calm demeanor shouldn’t be equated with weakness of conviction. On the contrary, he’s a paladin for his political agenda, ready to win by means of his lengthy plans. Oh, and he’s not afraid of suing. (Example B).

During his time as comptroller, Lander has condemned Adam’s corrupt behavior and has put pressure on the mayor to submit a timeline and plan for how he will stabilize his administration.

Lander, a progressive, has made ending homelessness for mentally ill New Yorkers a signature campaign issue. He’s not the first mayor who’s tried to take on street homelessness — the two most recent mayors, Adams and Bill de Blasio, each introduced their own plans, but the problem has persisted. 

The comptroller’s housing first approach is modeled after success in cities including Denver, Philadelphia, and Houston. The plan involves placing around 2,000 homeless people with severe mental health issues in vacant apartments, while providing services.

“In Park Slope, we have a meaningful amount of people sleeping on the streets with serious mental illness,” says Lander. “So offering housing to people with support services so that they’re not sleeping on the streets and are much more likely to go off their medication or their treatment and be a danger to themselves and others, that makes a safer neighborhood for everyone.”

Lander credits his time as city councilmember in the 39th District as teaching him key lessons about representing the city. He recalls the neighborhood banding together after Hurricane Sandy to turn the Park Slope Armory into a refuge for seniors who had been displaced from the storm.

“When you engage people in their democracy and then really deliver and serve them well, remarkable things become possible,” says Lander.

Transparency is another focus of Lander’s campaign, differentiating himself from the previous administration. His “Stop the Corruption” plan calls to protect against corruption, by committing to fair hiring tactics, publicly disclosing schedules and meetings, and stricter lobbying regulations. 

“Eric Adams, unfortunately, has failed to deliver on his promises even before he betrayed our trust through so much corruption,” Lander says. “What Park Slope wants is someone who’s honest, who lives up to their word, who listens and engages people and who can then genuinely deliver and make City Hall work for families.”

Lander’s campaign success has been palpable, signified by his lead in campaign funding. His campaign manager, Alison Hirsh, credits this success to a grassroots strategy focused on small-dollar donations from New York City residents through a network of house parties and organizing efforts.

“I have known Brad for 20 years and fundamentally believe that he would be an amazing mayor. He has a unique combination of policy intelligence, human intelligence, management capability and really understands systems and how to make them work and how to make them work on behalf of people,” says Hirsh. “The other thing that makes Brad unique I think, in politics, is that he’s a truly decent human being.”

New York City’s First Ever Unionized Pizzeria Closed at the End of February

By Filed Under: The Reader On Food

The storefront of Barboncino

One month after its closure, now-vacant Barboncino still lingers in the minds of its customers and workers—and in the larger conversation around labor power in Brooklyn.

BROOKLYN — Barboncino in Crown Heights served its last wood-fired pizza on Feb. 28. 

The pizzeria had become known for more than its Neapolitan style crust: it was the first unionized pizza place in the city and a community staple.

“It is a place where you can go at any moment and see someone that you want to talk to,” said Andrea Lopez, 34, a bartender and server at Barboncino, who lamented the loss. “It’s a really, really special place, and it’s a really rare thing in this increasingly kind of atomized and isolating world.”

The closure is also a blow for labor organizers, and it hints of how tough such efforts will be in Brooklyn in the months ahead. Workers United, a national union which had helped organize the pizzeria’s workers, had scored another big win at the Starbucks in Park Slope in October 2024. But like Barboncino, the Park Slope Starbucks closed in January, with the company citing financial strains.

The ability of workers to flex their power seems to be fading rapidly as the Trump administration makes changes at the National Labor Relations Board and a cooling labor market suggests more unemployed people are available for companies to hire. 

At Barboncino, owners and workers had been unable to agree on pay and other terms for more than a year. Similarly, they now disagree on the reason for the shop’s demise. Employees say the new owners failed to provide the quality and care that had cultivated a loyal following.

The owners say the business succumbed to the financial pressures common among small restaurateurs. On Instagramthey posted, “We believed in Barboncino’s long-term potential, but because of rising economic strains, diminished sales, and other industry-wide challenges, it is with great sadness that Barboncino must put out the oven-fire, and close the doors.” 

Employees at the Crown Heights restaurant worked with Workers United to officially form a union in July of 2023, but negotiations stalled, and a contract was never signed between the owners and the union. The union represented the 32 hourly employees.

Becca Young, 28, a server at Barboncino and one of the lead contract negotiators, described negotiating as “a really drawn-out process.” 

“They were willing to meet with us once a month, mostly,” Young said of the owners. “Except for when they were away vacationing in Capri, which was often.”

At their final negotiation meeting before the closure announcement, workers presented their economic proposals. The owners delayed responding until eventually announcing they were closing for good. 

“Our community, one we have worked to preserve and improve, is being dismantled at the hands of absent owners that have repeatedly ignored our needs,” is written in an Instagram post by Barboncino Workers United, announcing the closure of the restaurant. “A union can’t salvage the damage done by incompetence, neglect and disregard.” 

Most of the front-of-house staff worked part-time at the pizzeria and supplement their pay with other work. However, for many, Barboncino was their primary source of income. 

Staff have started a GoFundMe to help staff that are in financial distress after losing their jobs. They have raised over $10,000.

Despite lacking a formal contract, the union was able to achieve some worker protections. One victory came when morning shifts were abruptly cut—a total of ten shifts. Initially, staff were given just a week-and-a-half notice, but after pressure from the union, management agreed to delay the major scheduling change to give workers a chance to find other work.

Another was the implementation of a step-by-step protocol to address incidents when a customer harasses an employee.

Barboncino was bought from its original owners by Jesse Shappell and Emma Walton in October 2022.

“I think they viewed the restaurant as an investment, and we viewed the restaurant as a home, and I think they couldn’t understand what they had bought,” Young said.

Lopez, who has been at Barboncino for six years, said that staff noticed business was lagging and customers were unhappy but felt ignored when they brought their concerns to the owners. 

“They were just raising the prices, lowering quality, and we were like, people are complaining about the prices and the quality of the food,” Lopez said. “And they were absolutely ignoring us at every turn. They took no steps to, in any way, try to bring back business.”

All Politics is Local

By Filed Under: Community, Park Slope Life, Politiki

Your Local Government Cheat Sheet

With local and state elections around the corner, it can be overwhelming to begin conducting the  necessary research to know the candidates. Consider our new political column as a foundation for you to learn the basics about our city council members, Brooklyn borough president, state senators, and other elected officials who shape our local legislation and policies. 

Who’s Who in Local Government 

I’d be surprised, and maybe even envious, if you didn’t know that we recently had a presidential election. You also probably know about some of the recent state and city-wide ballot measures we had to vote “yes” or “no” on. But the intricacies of local politics that can feel like a game of trivia, and when someone knows the correct answer, you’re left wondering, how do you know that? 

People often interact with their local government more than they do the federal government on a daily basis, yet sare often less informed on current policies and legislation in progress. Here are your local government basics:

City Council

Let’s start with the City Council. In New York City, the City Council is responsible for approving the city’s budget, overseeing city agencies such as the Department of Education and NYPD, introducing and voting on laws, and regulating land use. 

Park Slope is part of City Council District 39, which also includes parts of Kensington, Borough Park, Windsor Terrace, Gowanus, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Boerum Hill, and the Columbia Waterfront. 

Shahana Hanif is the first woman to represent District 39 in the City Council and made history as the first Muslim woman elected to the City Council when elected in 2021. Since joining City Council, she has passed notable legislation that has mandated universal residential composting, protected and expanded abortion rights in NYC, created an Immigrant Workers’ Bill of Rights, and enacted legislation to establish a program to assist with free door and window repairs for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence. She recently introduced a bill to include Middle Eastern and North African business owners in New York City’s Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises program. Hanif was one of the first council members to call for an immediate permanent bilateral ceasefire in Gaza, and was arrested during a Pro-Palestine protest in October 2023.

Election: The City Council will hold its next election in 2025. Council members are elected for a four-year term, except for every twenty years, when they serve a two-year term to allow for redistricting. The last two-year term was in 2023.

Contact info: The best way to reach Hanif’s office for constituent services is at (718) 499-1090 or District39@council.nyc.gov.

Brooklyn Borough President

Borough presidents work with the mayor, advocating on behalf of their borough for land use projects and budget needs. They have limited legislative power but can propose legislation through a council member.

Antonio Reynoso succeeded Eric Adams as Brooklyn borough president. He has recently focused on improving maternal health and reducing health disparities in Brooklyn, creating community baby showers where young families can receive free supplies and resources.

Reynoso has also been a founding member of an anti-NIMBY housing league that embraces development as means to solve New York City’s housing crisis. The league is an alliance of politicians supporting each other push for more construction. Despite his pro-development stance, Reynoso officially disapproved the development of a high rise building at 962-970 Franklin Ave., siding with the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

Election: Borough presidents serve a four-year term and the next elction will be in 2025.

Contact info: Reynoso’s office can be reached at (718) 802-3700 or at AskReynoso@brooklynbp.nyc.gov.

New York City Mayor

The mayor is at the top of the city government hierarchy. The mayor oversees all local government departments, attends civic ceremonies, implements the City Council’s decision, addresses constituent concerns, and develops policies.

Eric Adams, the 110th mayor of New York City, was elected in 2021. He is the first mayor to be charged with federal crimes and his trial is set to begin on April 21, 2025. 

Mayor Adams campaigned on fighting crime and ‘getting stuff done’. Some of the highlights of his term as mayor include significant school budget cuts, a directive that allows police and medical professionals to involuntarily hospitalize people who appear to be facing severe mental health issues, and investments in affordable housing. 

Election: The mayor serves a four-year term, with the next mayoral election in 2025.

Contact info: To contact the mayor’s office, use the webform at https://www.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/mayor-contact.page. Calling 311 is the best way to receive city-level non-emergency information. 

State Assembly

The New York State Assembly, one of the two chambers that make up the State Legislature, has 150 members. The State Assembly passes bills, raises and lowers taxes, oversees state agencies, and plays a role in allocating budgets.

Robert Carroll has represented District 44 in the New York State Assembly since 2016. He led efforts to create a Dyslexic Task Force Act, a landmark piece of legislation that addresses literacy and dyslexia in the state. He has also been a strong advocate of climate protection legislation and renewable energy, making significant contributions to the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.  

Election: Assembly members are elected every two years, with the next election in 2026.

Contact info:  Carroll’s district office can be reached at CarrollR@nyassembly.gov or (718) 788-7221.

State Senate

The New York State Senate drafts, approves, and repeals laws and resolutions, working with the Assembly and Governor to do so. New York has 63 state senators. 

Andrew Gounarde represents all of Park Slope as well as Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Sunset Park, Red Hook, Gowanus, Carroll Gardens, Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill, Downtown Brooklyn, Fort Greene, Brooklyn Heights, Vinegar Hill, and DUMBO as senator of New York’s 26th District. He serves as the Chairman of the Committee on Budget and Revenue.

Since his 2019 election, he has introduced and passed legislation to increase drug price transparency, lower hospital costs, and require large public venues in New York to keep epinephrine on hand. He has most recently proposed a ‘Birth Grant,’ a bill that would provide parents in their third trimester who are on Medicaid with $1800.

Election: State senators, like assembly members, are elected every two years, and up for reelection in 2026. 

Contact info: To reach Sen. Gounardes’ office, use gounardes@nysenate.gov or (718) 238-6044.

Zellnor Myrie is Senator of New York’s 20th District which encompasses Central Brooklyn neighborhoods such as Park Slope, Crown Heights, East Flatbush, Prospect Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, and Windsor Terrace.

Sen. Myrie has championed affordable housing, universal after school care, and gun control during his time in office. He is Chair of the Elections Committee and has worked to protect and expand voting rights by simplifying the absentee ballot process and closing the LLC campaign donation loophole. Myrie, who has represented the 20th District in the Senate since 2019, plans to challenge Mayor Eric Adams in the June 2025 primary for mayor.

Election: State senators, like assembly members, are elected every two years, and up for reelection in 2026.

Contact info: The contact information for Sen. Myrie’s office is myrie@nysenate.gov and (718) 284-4700.

New York State Governor

The governor oversees the state executive branch and implements state laws. In New York, that’s Kathy Hochul (66). Gov. Hochul is the first woman to be elected to governor in New York. She recently announced $22 million of funding towards modernizing New York’s electrical grid. Gov. Hochul passed legislation called the Clean Slate Act which recently went into effect. The act will allow for people who have been released from prison and have kept a clean record for a certain amount of time be eligible to have their convictions sealed.

Since the second Trump administration has been announced, Gov. Hochul has dusted off congestion pricing plans and has signed legislation allowing greater access to fluoride for kids.

Election: The governor has a four-year term and is up for reelection in 2026.

Contact info:  To contact Gov. Hochul’s office, use the webform at https://www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form or (518) 474-8390. 

House of Representatives

The House of Representatives is made up of 435 elected representatives and is responsible for making and passing federal laws.

Dan Goldman represents New York’s 10th Congressional district, which includes Park Slope and other parts of Western Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan. Goldman has represented New York’s 10th Congressional district since January of 2023. Since being elected to Congress, he has sponsored bills that aim to achieve equal pay, support a transgender day of visibility, and make a plan to stabilize the climate system amid the current climate crisis, among others.

Election: Members of the House of Representative serve two years terms, and the next time they are up for reelection is 2026.

Contact info: Contact Rep. Goldman’s Brooklyn district office at (718) 312-7575 or use his online form which can be found at https://goldman.house.gov/contact. 

Open Studios Showcases Gowanus: A Neighborhood’s Changing Identity

By Filed Under: Community, The Arts

By: Lauren Hartley and Jaylen Green

NEW YORK — Blue balloons wrapped door handles across Gowanus Saturday and Sunday, signaling to the public that they could enter to view work created by local artists. 

Gowanus, a neighborhood known for its converted industrial buildings turned art spaces, hosted its 28th year of Open Studios, where hundreds of artists showcase their work out of their homes, studios, galleries, and local businesses, to welcome people into Gowanus and encourage art sales and display.

Arts Gowanus, the event organizer, is an arts and advocacy organization that helps artists across New York City and Gowanus maintain affordable access to studios and living space, publicly showcase their work, and provide resources that allow them to thrive. 

Ella Yang next to her paintings of Park Slope and Gowanus

2024 marks the 21st year Ella Yang has been participating in the Open Studios. When she first joined the Open Studios event, there were about 30 participating artists. Now, there are about 400. 

One of Yang’s exhibits, titled Disappearing Gowanus showcases scenes that have now completely changed – or soon will – due to new high-rise developments, which take advantage of the rezoning near the canals.

“One of the things that was so wonderful about painting here was there was just so much sky,” Yang said, about painting in Gowanus. “There were no tall buildings, especially along the canals. I’ve done like dozens in the last twenty years of paintings of the canals and now the views are going to be completely changed, so I don’t think I’ll be painting a lot of the canal anymore.” 

Rosie Oliveto sits outside the studio home she grew up in. She made the pillows behind her with sustainably sourced materials.

Pointing across the street to the new apartment building that casts a shadow over the studio home she grew up in, Rosie Oliveto reflects on how the neighborhood’s rapid changes have left little space for its artists to make their mark. 

“They’re just trying to make it a bigger and bigger, bigger city and artists are like, wait, we’re here. We’re here too, you know?”

Growing up on Carroll Street, Oliveto was surrounded by artists like her mother that shaped her identity and encouraged self-expression. 

“It’s infectious and amazing because we all can come together as a community and make art shows happen and build on each other instead of like, ‘oh, I’m an artist.’ And then it’s competitive and like everybody’s an artist, it doesn’t feel that way,” she says. “It feels like everybody’s meant to be together.”

Casielle Santos-Gaerlan pictured next to her work

Casielle Santos-Gaerlan sees her art as a search for more belonging. As an American, she feels disconnected from her Filipino heritage. Her work, centered around Brown women, is inspired by her identity and themes of the immigrant experience, colonialism, and how it affects people and the Filipino community.

“A lot of it is also a practice of going back to my roots,” she explains about her art. “As an American I feel really disconnected, I don’t speak the language. A lot of it is a search for finding more belonging.” 

Born, raised, and lives in Park Slope, Santos-Gaerlan has been impacted by gentrification and the changes in the neighborhood. 

“I’ve seen a lot of businesses close and a lot of loved ones leave the neighborhood,” she says. “Eventually I do want to do more work about the neighborhood and race for different spaces that I’ve experienced in my childhood.” 

Gowanus Wine Studio & Tasting Table

Aimee Little, Founder of Gowanus Wine Studio & Tasting Table, has made art an integral part of her business model. Part of the concept from day one was to have art representation from the community, preserving the creative culture that has long been a part of the neighborhood. 

“It’s part of the culture of the neighborhood, that was here first,” Little says. “This is trying to keep in line with the roots of the area.” 

As a long time resident of Gowanus, Little was aware of the anticipated influx of residents to the neighborhood, and strategically opened her business in the developing area.

As the development has begun, but people have not yet moved in, the change in the area looks obvious, but the density that will likely follow with more residences isn’t in full effect yet.

“Change is difficult in some aspects,” notes Little. “I think the Arts Gowanus in particular has done a good job of setting the stage. What they’ve done to advocate for the people that are here is special.”

Kitty McDonough sitting on the stoop to her home selling clothes and shoes

Kitty McDonough, 67, is a Brooklyn-born novelist who moved to Gowanus in 1992. She recounts the open atmospheric energy she grew accustomed to in the “industrial no man’s land” she knew as the sleepy provincial Gowanus.

“Cities change, and that’s particularly true about New York City, it’s constantly changing and inventing itself.”

McDonough loves the attention Arts Gowanus brings to local artists. The event introduces artists’ work to people who might otherwise not know of it. “It’s important to get people aware that this is happening here and it’s an artist community,” she says.

While she’s still getting used to the changes of the neighborhood, she welcomes the new energy people bring to the area. 

Work by Dale Williams

Dale Williams has been creating art in Gowanus since 1996. He became a part of the Open Studios in 1999 and helped organize the event the year after.

Williams paints hybrid figurative works from his imagination. His works evolve out of spontaneous feelings he has as he works, likening the experience to dreaming.

“You don’t plan your dreams, but afterward, you think about them—how they’re important to you, what they mean,” Dale says. “That’s what I’m always setting off towards in my work. I want to show myself something that feels like it has significance to me in that moment of making it, much like a dream might.”

Despite the lack of a fixed plan, Williams recognizes certain recurring themes in his work. “I definitely paint certain kinds of figures. I call them ‘strugglers and strivers.’

“They’re kind of involved in some sort of mysterious action and kind of emotional and you hope they get through it, whatever it is.”

A page of one of Dale Williams’ drawing books, showcasing works One Waiting and Sing Cuckoo Sing

Work by Dale Williams

Alitha Alford is a Black American Filipina artist whose work is inspired by her ancestry and family. She remembers confiding in her grandpa that she had always been a late bloomer, and in response, he said, “Leelee it doesn’t matter if you’re a late or early bloomer, all it matters is that you bloom.” 

She painted her grandpa with a flower, as an ode to that advice.

Alford initially held back from pursuing being a full-time artist because of the stigma that art can’t support you. Eventually, she chose to chase her dreams anyways. 

“Art is literally my heartbeat,” she says. “It feeds my soul.”

Work by Alitha Alford

Scott Albrecht standing in front of works from artists that have inspired him. Pictured is also a skateboard and a Korean Scotch Whisky box he designed.

Scott Albrecht is an abstract artist with a love for writing. He noticed people reading without connecting to words on a page and wanted to use his background in graphic design to turn his love of writing into a visual work that allows viewers to engage with words in a different way. 

“You can still find the letter forms, you can still look for the message, but the fact that it’s abstracted, reading becomes secondary to the experience,” he says.

Albrecht is currently working on an exhibit entitled What Holds Us that showcases works started after he sustained a severe head injury last year. He says the project branched out of his feeling of gratitude for all the love he received from those around him during his recovery. One of his works, Hold a Moment, centers around the power of telling people you love them and its influence on strengthening that moment.    

Albrecht ends the excerpt of this piece with, “At the time I was reconciling a level of fear from almost not having the opportunity to express that feeling because of the severity of the injury, and I wanted to take the opportunities when I could, telling people they were important to me was nurturing.”

We Are Going to Lose Entire Generations of New Yorkers

By Filed Under: Park Slope Life

By Lauren Hartley

Sen. Zellnor Myrie Speaks With Brooklyn Parents About Rising Child Care Costs


NEW YORK — The morning of Saturday, Sept. 21 Sen. Zellnor Myrie joined New Yorkers United for Child Care for a Town Hall with parents at a Park Slope playground. While kids stumbled across the fall-proof rubber playground surface, parents had the chance to share their experiences and concerns about raising kids in New York City, particularly the growing cost burden of childcare.

“There is no way for a middle-class family to be able to afford to stay here if child care is cost prohibitive, if housing is cost prohibitive, and if you don’t have the opportunity for economic success,” said Sen. Myrie. “We are going to lose entire generations of New Yorkers.”

For many New Yorkers, affording to raise a family in the city is becoming increasingly unattainable. In 2023, the Citizens’ Committee for Children found that more than 80% of families with children under five in New York City cannot afford childcare. Rising rent prices and stagnant wages have made the cost of living unsustainable for families. 

The Town Hall opened with remarks from Rebecca Bailin, Executive Director of New Yorkers United for Child Care, “The cost of raising kids in New York City is too expensive. So many of us feel like we have to leave New York when we have a child,” Bailin said, opening it up for parents to share.

The cost of childcare, which can exceed $20,000 annually per child, is a point of stress for many families, mentioned throughout the Town Hall. A father of two explained that he pays $2,500 a month per child for daycare, amounting to $60,000 a year. 

The median salary in Kings County is $76,912.

Parents also struggle to secure spots in 3-K, New York City’s free, full-day educational program for three-year-old children. Universal Pre-K, one of Mayor Bill De Blasio’s major initiatives, has been undercut by budget cuts to early education under Mayor Eric Adams. As a result, only half of the city’s school districts can guarantee a 3-K seat, leaving parents to navigate a lottery system which can be confusing and may favor those who are able to spend the hefty costs of 2K. 

Ilyssa Meyer, a mother of a five-month-old who lives in Prospect Heights, is paying $30,000 for child care this year, with help from her mother. 

“It was a big investment because luckily they have 3-K in Prospect Heights. So hopefully, if everything works out, we pay a whole bunch of money upfront but then get the free option, preferential spots – hopefully, if it all works out.” 

Meyer’s family, like many others, is banking on paying for earlier years of care to secure priority for a free 3-K spot. 

Sen. Myrie addressed these concerns, sharing his personal experience with child care.

“I am a born and raised New Yorker. I would not have been able to become a senator, a lawyer, if we didn’t have after-school programming which provided something for my mom,” he said to the circle of parents. “Like most New Yorkers, she didn’t get off at 3 p.m.”

Sen. Myrie also acknowledged the issues with 3-K and pointed to the lack of execution on the existing framework. He highlighted the lack of available seats in the program, which has left many families without options.

“A failure to match available seats with demand is purely administrative incompetence.”