November 7, 2024 - Brooklyn Downtown Star

42 Hotel to host Jazz Night featuring tastes from Celebrity Chef Eric LeVine

John on November 7, 2024

Jazz, wine, and unique tastes from Food Network’s Chef Eric LeVine at 42 Hotel in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

by Molly Sword

On Thursday, November 21st, 75 lucky people will experience jazz, wine, and a unique tasting menu of passed hors d’oeuvres from Food Network’s celebrity guest Chef Eric LeVine at 42 Hotel in Williamsburg.

This is a free event, however, it will only be open to the first 75 people who secure their tickets at this link.

LeVine is a restaurateur, caterer, cookbook author, multi-award-winning chef, and food network “Chopped Champion.” As a six-time cancer survivor, LeVine knows hard work and perseverance, and he shares his story to support and inspire others.

The 21st of November will be a glimpse into the creative mind of Chef Eric, as he has carefully curated a unique menu exclusively for the Tasting Event.

LeVine’s successful restaurant, 317 Main Street, has received prestigious awards, such as “Best Long Island Burger”, “Best Restaurant”, and “Best Chef” from various media publications.

“I was born in Brooklyn, so this event at 42 Hotel is a full circle moment for me,” said LeVine, who worked his way from the back of the kitchen to a celebrity chef.

Below is the exclusive hors d’oeuvres menu of the night, created by Chef Eric LeVine:

Smoked salmon with daikon radish +,mustard aioli
Seared tuna loin on wasabi spoon
Soba noodle salad with Asian chicken cup
Grilled Chicken Sausage Skewers with grilled scallions
Shredded pickled slaw with olives + roasted garlic aioli cup
White bean, Tomato + Basil Salad cup
Fried dumplings with scallion Asian sauce
Ricotta, Prosciutto Crostini with balsamic tomatoes

The night will not only feature LeVine’s incredible food, but also include a jazz band, unique house wine, and draft beer.

42 Hotel is the result of the diligent work of Nik Patel, who with his partner, Milan Patel, have worked tirelessly to create a luxury environment in the heart of the upcoming South Williamsburg area.

As Nik and Milan grew up without the privilege of wealth or status, they understand the value of hard work and inspire others through their story. The number 42 means a lot to Nik and Milan, as it reflects how their family came from one of the 42 villages in the state of Gujarat in the western part of India.

Tap this link to reserve your free ticket to enjoy LeVine’s culinary genius, exceptional jazz music, and a great choice of wines at 42 Hotel, located at 426 South 5^th St. in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

NYC Has a Unique Deal with the EPA to Avoid Filtering Its Water. Losing It Could Cost Taxpayers Billions.

Clare Baierl on November 7, 2024

Water spills down the side of the New Croton Dam in Cortlandt, New York, which was built in 1907. Credit: Fifi + Hop.

By JACK DELANEY

jdelaney@queensledger.com

In 1997, a complex tangle of interests that included the EPA, Albany, the City Council, a coalition of upstate towns, and a group of environmental nonprofits came together to see if a special deal could be struck: could New York City avoid filtering its water?

The benefits were clear. Per the 1974 Safe Water Drinking Act, any city that relies on surface waters — basically, reservoirs fed by river streams and precipitation — is required to filter that supply before it reaches residents. But filtration is an expensive process, and that’s especially true when a water system is on the scale of New York City’s, with 1 billion gallons of water drawn daily from three watersheds, covering over 1,000 square miles, that are carried down to the five boroughs via 7,000 miles worth of delivery infrastructure.

So the obscure 1997 agreement, known as a Filtration Avoidance Determination (or FAD), was billed as a way for taxpayers to save billions of dollars. If the reservoirs could pass an array of stringent tests, the EPA would waive the requirement that they be filtered. And for 27 years, satisfied by the New York Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) efforts, it has done just that.

That job is getting much more difficult, as NYC confronts a mounting water crisis. The city is currently undergoing its first drought watch in 20 years, and officials plan to shut down one of its main aqueducts this winter, because a section of tunnel under the Hudson River is ‘massively leaking,’ as reported by NBC, and needs repairs. Separately, flooding continues to plague Southeast Queens, where historical disinvestment has left many households with no answers for overflowing groundwater. Facing a headache-inducing panoply of things to fix, experts are relying on the FAD to keep costs manageable.

But this arrangement is fragile. Only six watersheds in the U.S. have been granted FADs by the EPA, and in June of this year one of those cities, Portland, Oregon, lost it. It’s now embarking on a $2.1 billion project to filter out cryptosporidium, a parasite spread by animal feces, and to protect against the threat of wildfire ash mixing with chlorine.

To many, these concerns might seem remote. Aside from the red skies of last year’s downward-drifting Canadian smoke, which briefly gave New York City the dubious honor of having the worst air quality in the world, wildfires are less of an ever-present reality here, for now.

But at a City Council hearing last Wednesday, the head of the DEP, Rohit Aggarwala, acknowledged that New York’s reservoirs also contain significant levels of cryptosporidium. Luckily, current infrastructure already incorporates a UV treatment that ensures that the germs can’t reproduce, rendering them harmless to humans.

Yet the case of Portland “reinforces the fact that we have to be vigilant,” Aggarwala said, noting that the filtration system they were required to build “is less than 110th the size of the plant we would need,” which officials estimate could cost between $20 and $40 billion.

This is especially true, given NYC’s odd position among the handful of cities that are still holding onto a FAD. Unlike its peers, its watersheds are populated. Consider this: in 2023, the DEP paid $165 billion in local taxes on its upstate properties. It’s the second largest taxpayer in Westchester, and in many counties north of the city its payments prop up entire school systems. When engineers in Seattle want to renovate its water infrastructure, they don’t have to think about giving a parking lot to a nearby town as a concession. Yet that’s exactly what the DEP must do, as it balances the politics of local economic development with its mandate to keep water safe for roughly 10 million people.

The next negotiations over the FAD are slated for 2027, and the hearing served in part as a rehearsal of the many variables that could go wrong before then.

The department operates its own police force to patrol the watershed for illegal contamination, replete with an academy, a detective bureau, an emergency service unit, a canine unit, and an aviation unit. But it has struggled to fill its openings. One sticking point is that DEP officers are technically classified as civil service rather than law enforcement, for pension purposes. This means that they can’t retire until age 63, whereas peers in other bureaus can do so after 25 years of employment.

Workers pose on the tracks of the Rondout pressure tunnel in 1910, showing off its newly-set concrete lining. Credit: New York Public Library.

“We are constantly losing our officers to other forces, in large part because of this massive disparity in the pension,” Aggarwala explained. “We currently have nearly a 20% vacancy rate, despite doing everything we can to recruit and maintain these [employees.]”

Another existential threat? Ducks, geese, and gulls. As DEP Assistant Commissioner David Warne outlined, an area of special concern is Kensico Reservoir, where scat from wildlife threatens to recreate Portland’s disease-fueled bind.

The Westchester Airport poses another risk for pollution, as does runoff from the hundreds of local farms around the reservoirs. Councilmember James Gennaro, Chair of the Committee on Environmental Protection, Resiliency, and Waterfronts, also worried that state government might hypothetically pressure DEC to use these reservoirs for flood control, sacrificing their role as a water supply.

But ultimately, the obstacles for the FAD may be much grander, and more intractable, than staff shortages or errant animals. As climate change hastens the spread of disease and worsens flooding, whether the city can safeguard its money-saving deal with the EPA — at a moment when there’s an acute need for funds to overhaul the city’s aging water infrastructure — is an open question.

Subway Surfing’s Fatal Consequences: City Leaders Speak Out Against Rising Trend

Clare Baierl on November 7, 2024

Courtesy NY.GOV

A tragic incident on October 27 claimed the life of 13-year-old Krystel Romero, marking the sixth death from subway surfing in New York City this year.

By MOHAMED FARGHALY

mfarghaly@queensledger.com

A tragic incident on October 27 has brought renewed attention to the perilous trend of subway surfing in New York City. Krystel Romero, a 13-year-old girl, was pronounced dead at the scene after being struck by a train at the 111 Street subway station, marking her as the sixth person to die from this reckless activity this year alone.

The New York Police Department responded to a 911 call regarding the incident, which has added to the growing concern surrounding subway surfing, an act where individuals ride on top of moving trains. This dangerous trend has seen a disturbing increase within the last few years. The current year’s toll underscores an alarming pattern that has caught the attention of city officials and advocates alike.

During a press conference, Janno Lieber, chair and CEO of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), issued a stark warning.

“Listen, this is not like a video game. You don’t get another chance; you can’t just reboot,” Lieber said. “This is one chance – if you do something stupid, you’re going to lose your life. Please, parents, teachers, other caregivers, make sure kids understand this is not a game. They cannot take chances with their lives.”

In response to the rising incidents of subway surfing, the MTA has been proactive in implementing measures aimed at curbing this behavior. A campaign titled “Subway Surfing Kills – Ride Inside, Stay Alive” was launched to educate young people about the dangers associated with this reckless act. Shanifah Rieara, senior advisor for communications and policy at the MTA, addressed the ongoing efforts during a media roundtable earlier this year.

Rieara noted that the MTA started a campaign a year ago, using digital messages and voice recordings to warn students about the dangers of subway surfing. While the campaign has been effective, they plan to update it with a new version to further strengthen the safety message. Rieara emphasized the importance of ongoing outreach and collaboration with social media companies.

The city’s commitment to safety extends beyond educational campaigns. Mayor Eric Adams, alongside NYPD Interim Commissioner Thomas G. Donlon and NYC Public Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos, has urged New Yorkers to call 911 if they witness subway surfing. The NYPD is employing data from these calls to deploy joint drone and field response teams to areas with the highest reports of subway surfing incidents.

The deployment of drones in the fight against subway surfing has emerged as a critical tool for enhancing public safety in New York City. Utilizing data from 911 calls, the NYPD has implemented drone surveillance to monitor and respond to incidents of subway surfing in real time. This innovative approach allows officers to identify individuals riding on top of moving trains and intervene before potential tragedies occur. To date, this program has proven effective, helping to save the lives of 114 individuals, with ages ranging from nine to 33 years old and an average age of 14. By combining technology with community engagement, the city aims to curb this dangerous trend and protect its youth from the severe risks associated with subway surfing.

“Subway surfing is a deadly trap, one that is endangering more and more young people who see others doing it on social media,” said Mayor Adams. “But those five minutes of online fame could lead to years of regret and pain, or a lifetime of trauma and heartbreak for a family that loses a child. Think about what riding on top of trains really means: the possibility of death and your family, in grief, wondering what more they could have done to protect you. Subway surfing kills — ride inside, stay alive.”

The city’s ongoing campaign, which launched in September 2023, includes a multifaceted approach involving the NYC Department of Education, the NYPD, and the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development. The initiative has been designed for and by New York City teenagers, putting their voices front and center in a peer-to-peer effort to deter dangerous behavior. The campaign’s messaging has reached all 1,800 New York City Public Schools, with posters and palm cards distributed to schools near the J, M, Z, and 7 train lines, which experience the most complaints regarding subway surfing.

Courtesy NY.GOV

In response, officials are ramping up safety campaigns and using drone surveillance to combat this dangerous trend, urging parents and young people to recognize the life-threatening risks involved.

As part of this comprehensive effort, various materials, including public service announcements recorded by students, digital signage in subway stations, and social media posts, are being utilized to spread awareness. The campaign’s effectiveness is bolstered by partnerships with major tech companies like Meta and Google, which have made space on their platforms to amplify the messaging. The collaboration aims to counteract the viral nature of subway surfing content that has proliferated on social media.

Amid these initiatives, concerns about the role of social media in promoting dangerous behaviors have prompted further action from the city. In February, Mayor Adams announced a lawsuit against several social media companies for their negative impacts on young people, citing subway surfing as a key example. This lawsuit, filed in California Superior Court, seeks to hold companies operating TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and YouTube accountable for their roles in creating the youth mental health crisis in New York City. The lawsuit alleges that these companies intentionally designed their platforms to manipulate and addict children and teens to their applications.

“Views on social media are not worth losing your precious life. Six young people have tragically died from subway surfing in 2024, including a 13-year-old girl on the 7 train earlier this week. The city must invest in more after school programs that give young people an engaging safe space and an outlet to grow their interests outside of the classroom,” said New York City Councilmember Julie Won. “In 2023, five young people died from subway surfing, and these deaths continue to increase every year. Last year I wrote a letter to the MTA New York City Transit urging them to take immediate action to prevent subway surfing, including locking train doors. As a mother of two young kids, I urge the state to revisit this request to protect our children and prevent future fatalities from subway surfing.”

A subway train passes through the Brownsville neighborhood of Brooklyn on Wednesday, October 18 , 2017. Edwin J. Torres/Mayoral Photography Office.

As the city grapples with this escalating crisis, the loss of young lives continues to serve as a somber reminder of the dangers inherent in subway surfing. With city officials and community leaders rallying to combat this trend, the hope remains that through education, outreach, and active intervention, future tragedies can be prevented, ensuring the safety of New York City’s youth.

“Subway surfing, fueled by social media, has led to innumerable tragedies that have stolen far too many of our young people just entering the prime of their lives,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “I commend any effort to protect young people by stopping them from engaging in this extraordinarily dangerous trend, and I look forward to working with our partners in education and law enforcement to combat this crisis.”

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