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OP-ED: Brooklynites Need Relief from Swipe Fees

BQE Admin on April 22, 2026

Should Congress pass the Credit Card Competition Act? (Photo: Wikimedia)

By Pastor Sharmaine Byrd | news@queensledger.com

Make no mistake about it, rising costs are squeezing regular New Yorkers every single day. I hear about it from friends, family, my congregation and see it with my own two eyes daily. But one place we could see real relief is if Congress provides a solution for the fees baked into our credit card system.

Every time a New Yorker pays or donates with a credit card, that transaction incurs a fee for the merchant or organization that is set by Visa and Mastercard who dominate the payments industry. Those swipe fees amount to billions each year. While many businesses are forced to raise prices to cover costs, these fees come directly from the donation my church receives. That means we send a portion of every dollar we receive back to these massive credit card companies.

Passing the Credit Card Competition Act would change this by bringing more competition into the system and helping lower these costs. More competition means a fairer marketplace. But what it really means is more funds to continue giving back to our community and growing our ministry.

Encouraging competition would also drive down fees and lower costs for consumers and small businesses. This shouldn’t be a partisan issue, and that’s why this bill has bipartisan support. New Yorkers should urge Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand to back this commonsense reform. And as Minority Leader, Sen. Schumer is in a unique position to bring members of his caucus together and move this bill forward.

New York’s small businesses, consumers, and our faith community deserve a system that is working for them, not against them. It’s time for Congress to act and pass the CCCA.

Sharmaine Byrd is a pastor at the Greater Mt. Carmel Cathedral and Worship Center in Crown Heights.

Blackbird’s Cinco de Mayo party to feature $5 Margaritas and Live Music

BQE Admin on April 21, 2026

Fresh off its recognition as one of the borough’s top dining destinations, Blackbird Restaurant & Bar, located at 42 Hotel in Williamsburg, is channeling that momentum into what may be its most anticipated event of the season: a Cinco de Mayo celebration that aims to capture the spirit of Williamsburg itself—vibrant, communal, and unmistakably stylish.

Scheduled for Tuesday, May 5, from 4 to 9 p.m., the event will feature live entertainment and $5 margaritas, a combination that is expected to draw a cross-section of the neighborhood—from longtime residents to the newer wave of creatives and visitors who have helped redefine the area’s social fabric. In a neighborhood where dining often doubles as performance, Blackbird appears poised to deliver both.

The evening, however, is not solely about spectacle. At its core remains the kitchen that earned the restaurant its recent accolade as a Top Restaurant in Brooklyn. Chef Jerry, whose menu leans into elevated comfort with deliberate precision, will continue to spotlight signature dishes that have quietly built Blackbird’s reputation. The oxtail mac and cheese, deeply savory and slow-braised, anchors the menu with a richness that feels both indulgent and familiar. The salmon and grits offers a more refined counterpoint, while the sliders and lobster bisque maintain their standing as reliable crowd favorites.

“For us, it’s always about balance,” Chef Jerry said in a recent conversation. “You want the energy of a night like Cinco de Mayo, but you also want every plate that leaves the kitchen to hold up on its own. That’s what people remember.”

That philosophy extends beyond the food. Under the direction of General Manager Maurice, Blackbird has steadily evolved into a multifaceted space—equally suited for a casual night out or a carefully curated private event. The restaurant regularly hosts small weddings, engagement parties, and bridal showers, a reflection of its ability to feel both intimate and expansive at once.

“There’s a rhythm to this neighborhood,” Maurice noted. “People want experiences, not just meals. Cinco de Mayo gives us a chance to lean into that—music, cocktails, the full atmosphere—while still delivering the quality we’ve become known for.”

Williamsburg has no shortage of places competing for attention, particularly on nights tied to cultural celebrations. Yet Blackbird’s approach—grounded in strong culinary identity and elevated by a sense of occasion—suggests it is not simply following the trend, but shaping it in its own way.

As spring settles in and the neighborhood’s social calendar begins to fill, Blackbird’s Cinco de Mayo gathering stands out less as a one-night event and more as a reflection of what the restaurant has become: a place where food, community, and celebration intersect with intention.

Blackbird is located inside 42 Hotel at 428 S 5th St. in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. They can be reached at info@blackbirdbklyn.com.

Where to Stay for the World Cup in NYC: Discover 42 Hotel in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

BQE Admin on April 20, 2026

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaching, excitement is building across the New York metropolitan area. Fans from around the globe will travel to the region to watch matches at MetLife Stadium, one of the primary host venues for the tournament.

If you’re planning your World Cup trip, choosing the right neighborhood is key. While Manhattan often gets the spotlight, savvy travelers are increasingly choosing Williamsburg, Brooklyn as their home base. This vibrant neighborhood offers world-class dining, nightlife, and stunning waterfront views—plus easy access to stadium transportation and the rest of New York City.

At the center of Williamsburg’s thriving scene is 42 Hotel, widely considered one of the best boutique hotels in Brooklyn for travelers looking to experience the city during the World Cup.

Why Williamsburg, Brooklyn Is the Perfect Place to Stay for the World Cup

Located just across the East River from Manhattan, Williamsburg, Brooklyn has become one of New York City’s most exciting neighborhoods. Visitors will find a mix of historic streets, trendy restaurants, rooftop bars, and scenic parks—all within walking distance.

Key benefits of staying in Williamsburg during the World Cup:

  • Easy transit access to MetLife Stadium

  • One of the best food scenes in New York City

  • Walkable nightlife and entertainment

  • Beautiful East River waterfront views

  • Quick subway rides to Manhattan attractions

For soccer fans visiting during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Williamsburg offers the perfect balance between energy, culture, and convenience.

Best Hotel in Williamsburg: 42 Hotel

If you’re searching for the best place to stay in Brooklyn during the World Cup, 42 Hotel stands out as a top choice.

This stylish boutique hotel captures the creative spirit of Brooklyn while providing a comfortable retreat after a day of sightseeing or cheering on your team.

Why travelers love 42 Hotel

  • Spacious, modern guest rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows

  • Boutique atmosphere with thoughtful design

  • Prime location in the heart of Williamsburg

  • Walking distance to restaurants, bars, and parks

  • Easy subway access across New York City

Whether you’re traveling for matches or exploring the city between games, 42 Hotel offers an ideal home base.

42 Hotel just announced an exclusive Spring Sale, where guests can receive 25% off normal room rates and a complimentary cocktail or beer at their popular restaurant, Blackbird.

Best Restaurants Near 42 Hotel in Williamsburg

Williamsburg is one of the top culinary destinations in New York City. Staying at 42 Hotel means you’re surrounded by some of the borough’s most celebrated restaurants.

Blackbird

Nestled inside 42 Hotel Williamsburg, Blackbird is a vibrant bar and restaurant that blends elevated comfort food with the creative energy of Williamsburg. Try the Oxtail Mac N’ Cheese.

Lilia

One of Brooklyn’s most famous dining spots, Lilia is known for handmade pasta, seasonal Italian dishes, and unforgettable flavors. Reservations are highly recommended.

Sunday in Brooklyn

A neighborhood staple, Sunday in Brooklyn is beloved for its brunch menu—especially the hazelnut maple praline pancakes—but dinner here is just as impressive.

Radegast Hall & Biergarten

Looking for a lively place to celebrate a match victory? Radegast Hall & Biergarten serves German beer, giant pretzels, and sausages in a festive beer hall setting.

Leo

For incredible pizza and natural wine, Leo has quickly become a Williamsburg favorite among locals and visitors alike.

Best Bars Near 42 Hotel to Watch the World Cup

If you want to soak up the global energy of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Williamsburg’s nightlife scene delivers.

Pete’s Candy Store

A Williamsburg classic, Pete’s Candy Store is known for its laid-back atmosphere, live music, and cozy backyard patio.

Brooklyn Bowl

One of the most unique entertainment venues in New York, Brooklyn Bowl combines live concerts, bowling lanes, and great food under one roof.

Freehold Brooklyn

For a high-energy nightlife experience, Freehold Brooklyn offers DJs, cocktails, and an indoor-outdoor lounge atmosphere.

Things to Do in Williamsburg Between World Cup Matches

When you’re not watching games at MetLife Stadium, Williamsburg offers plenty of activities.

Domino Park

Located along the East River, Domino Park features a beautiful waterfront walkway with stunning Manhattan skyline views.

McCarren Park

A favorite gathering place for locals, McCarren Park offers sports fields, green lawns, and plenty of space to relax.

Marsha P. Johnson State Park

Another scenic waterfront escape, Marsha P. Johnson State Park provides peaceful lawns and panoramic skyline views.

Alternative Hotel Option Near Williamsburg

Because the 2026 FIFA World Cup will bring huge crowds to the region, hotel availability may become limited.

If rooms fill up in Williamsburg, a convenient alternative is Holiday Inn Express Maspeth. Located a short drive away, it offers comfortable accommodations and easy access to Brooklyn, Manhattan, and stadium transportation routes.

Final Thoughts: Experience the World Cup From Brooklyn

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will transform the New York area into a global celebration of soccer. Choosing the right place to stay can make the experience even more memorable.

With its unbeatable dining scene, exciting nightlife, waterfront parks, and easy transportation access, Williamsburg, Brooklyn is one of the best neighborhoods for visitors.

For travelers looking for the best boutique hotel in Brooklyn, 42 Hotel offers the perfect combination of comfort, style, and location—placing you in the heart of one of New York City’s most dynamic neighborhood.

Community Board 1 Grills Pacha Group CEO Over Brooklyn Mirage Replacement

BQE Admin on April 16, 2026

Pacha Group CEO Kabir Mulchandani presents at Brooklyn CB1 on Tuesday, April 14. Photo by Cole Sinanian

BY COLE SINANIAN

cole@queensledger.com

GREENPOINT — Fans of the Brooklyn Mirage rejoice— a revamp of the infamous East Williamsburg open-air nightclub will open this summer as Pacha NYC, though things will be different this time around. 

Known for its wraparound screens and wild EDM shows, the original Brooklyn Mirage — located at 140 Stewart Avenue — was far from a good neighbor. The venue’s previous operators, Avant Gardner, filed for bankruptcy in 2025 and had been criticized for poor crowd management, excessive noise pollution, invasive security, overpriced drinks, and overbooking that left thousands of patrons paying for shows they never got to see. By the time it closed in 2024, rumors were circulating that a serial killer stalked Brooklyn Mirage’s perimeter. 

Up against this dismal reputation, the new management team came to Brooklyn Community Board 1 at the Swinging Sixties Center on Tuesday night prepped to earn the trust of the North Brooklyn community, much of whom had harsh words for the nightlife industry in general, which they say has overwhelmed Bushwick and East Williamsburg with constant noise and rowdiness that has seriously degraded residents’ quality of life. 

Presenting to a packed room, Indian-born billionaire and Pacha Group CEO Kabir Mulchandani positioned his company as one of the world’s most responsible hospitality brands, vowing to be the good neighbors his predecessors never were. He detailed his team’s plan to cut down on noise pollution, boost security, and add an independent shuttle bus network to the neighborhood to transport patrons, all in the name of improving safety for clubgoers and being respectful to neighbors. 

“Talking to members of the community, it has become exceptionally clear that there were many challenges that this venue faced,” Mulchandani said. “But I don’t think the venue deserves the blame. It’s the management that deserves the blame. There’s nothing wrong with the venue or right with the venue. It’s about who runs the venue.” 

The Pacha Group is perhaps best known for its flagship Ibiza venue, billed as “the world’s most iconic nightclub.” The Brooklyn location will be called Pacha NYC, and according to Mulchandani, it will contribute $75 million annually in economic activity and $4 million in tax revenue. Despite the fact that the site is still a mostly empty lot, Pacha NYC has already begun selling tickets, while the website has hailed it “Brooklyn’s Most Iconic Nightclub.” 

Mulchandani attributed much of the Brooklyn Mirage’s safety issues to overbooking and being consistently over-capacity. To address this, the new venue will cap capacity at 7,600 compared to the Brooklyn Mirage’s 9,600 and employ a system of lasers that track entries and exits in real-time via an app on attendees phones, instead of the traditional clicker-based system, which Mulchandani said is unreliable. An AI-powered security screening system and “200-plus” surveillance cameras, meanwhile, will keep frisking to a minimum. 

“I’ve seen the data,” Mulchandani said of the Brooklyn Mirage. “It oversold many, many nights. When you oversell, people are banging into each other. They’re getting more angry. They’re getting more upset. That creates friction, a lot of friction.”

As far as transportation, a fleet of free shuttle buses will move patrons from the club to Manhattan and two Brooklyn L Train stops, in a system similar to what’s used at the Ibiza club. Mulchandani also committed to funding pedestrian lighting improvements in the area and employing independent traffic guards at Pacha’s cost. And to address the area’s famously poor cell service, Pacha has already installed a new cell tower, which Mulchandani said he tested personally. 

Regarding noise, Mulchandani claimed Pacha NYC’s $2.5 million directional soundsystem would reduce noise pollution by 50-75% compared to the Brooklyn Mirage. Also included in the plans are an “acoustic wall”  that would prevent further sound leakage, and a decibel monitoring system that would immediately reduce the volume if it surpasses the allowable decibel limit. 

But while several community members testified in support of Pacha’s plan — most notably North Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce President Paul Samulski and Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce Vice President Paul Caserta — the majority of the speakers during the public testimony portion of Tuesday’s meeting were critical, drawing attention to the disastrous effects the nightlife industry has had on the neighborhood’s quality of life. 

“This is a low-income neighborhood, the schools have no money in Bushwick, it is very sad what is happening,” said Karina, a mother who testified at the meeting who lives 1300 feet away from the site. “People come in from other communities and just basically trash the neighborhood. The club owners make hand-over fist, while you see schools that are struggling, no green space.”

A woman named Haley called out the community’s limited ability to hold companies accountable if they break their promises.

“It comes down to long term residents already understand the impact of a club of this magnitude in the area, and we want assurances,”  she said. “I really appreciate that you’re willing to have these conversations. I respect you for doing that. I think it’s just there is a lot of ‘trust me’ energy coming out of this, and so it’s about accountability moving forward.”

EMS worker Joe Cruz, meanwhile, warned that the district doesn’t have enough ambulances, and that a club of this size would strain the already limited EMS resources.

“When you have a venue this big, with that many people, think about the resources that they’re gonna take for every intoxicated person that’s gonna call,” he said. “So that’s a problem for your community.” 

Another man, who takes care of his terminally ill father, described the toll the nightlife scene has taken on his family. 

“I’m a caregiver, my dad is 84-years-old, he has Alzheimer’s,” he said. “The streets are loud— trash, nightlife, piss. It’s an ecosystem that has been horrible for us.”

City Council Targets Amazon with Delivery Protection Act

BQE Admin on April 16, 2026

Delivery workers and members of the Teamsters union rally in support of the Delivery Protection Act. (Photo via the NYC Central Labor Council.)

By Cole Sinanian | cole@queensledger.com

CITY HALL  — Amazon does not directly employ its delivery drivers, but that could be about to change thanks to a bill sponsored by Astoria City councilmember Tiffany Caban.

The New York City Council’s Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection convened Thursday to hear testimony regarding Intro 518, also known as the Delivery Protection Act. The bill, which would require last-mile delivery facilities to obtain licenses from the city, has been backed by unions and Mayor Mamdani, who’ve hailed it as a potential win for labor that would make Amazon accountable to its workers and improve street safety. Critics, however, have maintained that the bill would only cost consumers by adding unnecessary fees to the delivery process, and hurt the local “Delivery Service Partners” that Amazon contracts to complete deliveries.

Though they wear Amazon uniforms, drive Amazon vehicles, and deliver Amazon packages, Amazon delivery drivers are not technically Amazon employees. Instead, they are employed by the smaller, local companies that operate the last-mile warehouses, called Delivery Service Providers (DSP). Amazon pays workers salaries and sets their schedules and quotas, but if something goes wrong — a traffic accident, for example — it is the DSP that is liable, not Amazon.

As Caban explained in her introduction Thursday, high delivery quotas encourage drivers to move as fast as possible, increasing the risk of accidents. According to a 2025 report from the city comptroller’s office, rates of traffic accidents are on average 137% higher around last-mile facilities. In the streets around just one in Maspeth, Queens, crash rates rose by 53 percent.

“And when these accidents happen, the company who controls the van, the worker, and the route suddenly tells us that this worker is not their employee and that it’s the subcontractors who are to blame,” Caban said.

“My bill would make New Yorkers, including workers, safer,” she continued. “It would require licensing for last mile facilities, direct employment of drivers, protection against unfair termination and retaliation, real worker training, and we have an outpouring of support from workers, unions, environmental groups, and traffic safety organizations.”

If passed, the Delivery Protection Act would require DSPs to pay $500 for a city license. Carlos Ortiz, chief of staff and deputy commissioner of external affairs at the Department of Consumer and Worker Protections (DCWP), characterized the bill as necessary to holding corporations accountable for malpractice.

“This model externalizes costs as well as liabilities which can lead to labor violations and the exploitation of workers in unsafe working environments,” Ortiz said. “We can’t allow protections for New Yorkers to be held hostage to corporate threats.”

As lawmakers heard testimonies at City Hall, a group of delivery drivers convened by a coalition of trade groups called New York Delivers rallied outside against the Delivery Protection Act. Councilmember Caban, however, noted that she had received an email from a group of delivery drivers prior to the hearing which suggested that DSPs had paid their workers to show up to the hearing to protest the bill.

“Drivers were forced to attend,” Caban said in her introduction, quoting the email. “In mandatory meetings, management asked in front of everyone who was not going to go, and they made us raise our hands in front of our co-workers.”

One Amazon driver, a man named Jose Suerta who’s worked at the DBK1 warehouse in Woodside for four years, testified in support of the bill, criticizing the company’s apparent disregard for worker safety.

“I decided to focus on organizing after a particularly hot summer day when a co-worker fainted,” he said, speaking in Spanish through an interpreter. “When she called the dispatcher, this was her response: ‘Sit down, drink some water, and then continue with your work route.’”

”The following week, the same thing happened to another woman,” Suerta said. “She received the exact same response when she called the dispatcher of Amazon.”

Manhattan Chamber of President Jessica Walker, meanwhile, criticized the bill, noting that while its intentions were good, it would add needless bureaucratic hurdles and contradict Mayor Mamdani’s affordability agenda.

”I support every goal this bill claims to address,” Walker said. “I want  delivery workers to be safe. I want them paid fairly. I want our streets safer. “What I oppose is the mechanism because the mechanism doesn’t achieve any of them and it imposes serious collateral damage on small businesses and consumers in the process.”

She continued: “This is the equivalent of putting a New York City tariff on every package that is brought into our city. 2.5 million packages a day. Every one would be more expensive.”

Manhattan City councilmember Harvey Epstein, who chairs the Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection, clapped back:

“There’s an agreement that we need to deal with the issues of additional crashes that are happening in our city, so the questions are, how do you resolve those problems? Sounds like you may disagree that that will resolve those problems, but we need tools to be able to resolve these issues in our city.”

Schwartz: What Mamdani Can Learn From La Guardia (And What He Really Shouldn’t)

BQE Admin on April 16, 2026

Mayor Mamdani has promised to deliver the “most ambitious agenda to tackle the cost-of-living crisis that this city has seen since the days of Fiorello La Guardia.”

By Lana Schwartz | lana.schwartz925@gmail.com

From the campaign trail to his inauguration, Mayor Mamdani has promised to govern in the tradition of Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia, considered widely to be the greatest New York City mayor of all time.

Now that Mayor Mamdani has reached his 100 day mark, the question stands: So far, how does Mayor Mamdani stack up against his political inspiration and many-years-earlier predecessor?

Stuff Mayor Mamdani Has Done Like La Guardia

Making significant investments in housing

Maybe he had to use some unconventional methods to get there, but the mayor’s Sunnyside Yard plan to create 12,000 new homes — half of which would be Mitchell-Lama apartments — would be the biggest investment in housing creation the city has seen in decades.

This fits squarely in the legacy of Mayor La Guardia, the creator of the New York City Housing Authority.

Stood with striking workers

When laundry workers went on strike, Mayor La Guardia stood with them by shutting off the water to two major laundromats, forcing owners to cave to the workers’ demands. So far, no strikes in New York City have come to this, but you can find Mayor Mamdani on the picket line with striking nurses and Starbucks workers.

Fulfilling his promise of“being outside”

In his inauguration address, Mayor Mamdani promised to, in the words of Jadakiss, “be outside.” Similar to how Mayor Mamdani can be found walking from City Hall to Gracie Mansion, or making Instagram reels to promote his policies, Mayor La Guardia was also “outside.” You could find La Guardia conducting an orchestra of the police, fire, and sanitation departments at Carnegie Hall, and he famously read the comics in his weekly Sunday radio show broadcast on WNYC.

A Few Things Mayor Mamdani Can Do to Be More Like La Guardia

Finish Bushwick Inlet Park

It’s what Mayor La Guardia, whose tenure saw the creation of almost 200 new playgrounds, would do. (When in doubt, ask WWMLDWTSTCOATNPD?)

Drink a beer in Congress

Yes, La Guardia was doing it in protest of Prohibition — which means that it was his own concoction made of a “near beer” and two-thirds of a bottle of malt tonic — and yes, Prohibition has long since been repealed. Does that mean it would be any less fun if Zohran found a reason to do it? We will let you answer that for yourself.

Appoint an official magician

It was the mid-1930s, the Great Depression was roaring, and Mayor La Guardia needed a way to boost the morale of the city’s children (or New York’s Cutest, as Mayor Mamdani calls them). His solution: To appoint Abraham Hurwitz as the city’s official magician. Hurwitz, a government employee with a PhD in educational guidance, used magic to help kids learn. One more thing to keep kids off their phones!

Some Stuff La Guardia Did That He Shouldn’t

Build an airport

I think this would cause more problems than fix them.

Smash all the city’s pinball machines

While it would make for a pretty good photo op, there’s really no longer any plausible deniability that pinball is endemic to gambling and racketeering.

Appoint a Robert Moses-like figure to power, setting off a chain of events that will allow an unelected official to wield power unlike the the city has ever seen before, bending it to their will and ensuring that current and future generations suffer from his decision to prioritize cars over people, public transit, and housing

Seems self-explanatory.

Lana Schwartz, a columnist for the Star, is a writer who was born and raised in Queens and today lives in Brooklyn. Her writing has appeared on The New Yorker, The Onion, McSweeney’s, and more. She is the author of the books “Build Your Own Romantic Comedy” and “Set Piece.”

Punk and Potlucks at Williamsburg’s P.I.T.

BQE Admin on April 16, 2026

New York punk band FOCO plays a set last week at P.IT., an eclectic venue-slash-bookshop at 411 South 5th St. (Photo: Adeline Daab)

By Adeline Daab | news@queensledger.com

SOUTH WILLIAMSBURG — To the casual passerby, P.I.T. appears to be just another one of Williamsburg’s vibrant book and record shops. Memoirs of revolutionaries, collections of queer poetry, and zines about guerilla gardening overflow from the shelves. But P.I.T. — which stands for Property is Theft — primarily defines themselves as a community space, venue, and info-shop. Book and record sales merely support the reading groups, mutual aid org meetings, shows, and more that animate the corner of 5th St. and Hewes multiple nights a week.

On a recent Wednesday evening, a group spanning almost every living generation perched on an equally eclectic array of plastic folding chairs in P.I.T.. Projected onto the screen in front of us was a grainy documentary with thick subtitles that carried a distinct 2000s charm. “Soma – An Anarchist Therapy” followed the emergence of Soma, a type of group movement therapy grounded in the principles of anarchy. The film makes a point of clarifying from the outset that anarchy is not chaos. “Anarchy is the highest order,” states Soma’s creator Roberto Freire, a Brazilian writer, therapist, and torture survivor. It is “a kind of harmony where everyone knows what they need to do.”

Heavily influenced by Capoeira Angola, a communally-practiced martial art that arose with enslaved peoples’ attempt to liberate themselves from slavery in Brazil, Soma centers around the goal of liberation from what Freire sees as a new form of slavery: neurosis. Freire understands authoritarianism as “the technique that produces the disease,” and anarchy as “the minimum you must know to be healthy and free.” Soma actively works to free people from the crushing influence that authoritarianism has on our social relations. Its philosophy builds on an understanding that we bring about a liberated society by first changing ourselves and the way we connect with others. Soma isn’t for everyone — “I can’t bear it,” one participant shared, “I want my neurosis back” — but those who stuck with it appeared to achieve genuine breakthroughs. Sometimes, these were as small as a participant deciding to hug their parents more often. But each small change, Freire says, matters within the larger movement.

This event was a part of a monthly series of potluck discussions organized by the P.I.T. Care Collective, a community of health workers building a vision toward a Healing Commons beyond institutional logic and boundaries. Following the film, we sat in a circle nibbling at a meal we’d all contributed to. With piles of Yemeni rice and lentils, wedges of orange blossom cake, warmly spiced empanadas, and grapes galore balanced on our laps, attendees mirrored principles of the “hot seat” practice within Soma. Documentary interviewees had described this practice as one of reflective inquiry and response, helping them question beliefs they’d never consciously pondered before. In Wednesday’s discussion circle, people vulnerably opened up about past experiences with violence, shared their disillusionments with individualized therapy and simultaneous fears around group therapy, and wondered how Soma might help people in their lives who are struggling with addiction. Each speaker was met with active listening, deep empathy, and occasionally compassionate pushback. P.I.T.’s heavily-postered walls held space for a form of emotional safety and care that I rarely encounter in environments where most of us are strangers to each other.

One participant reflected on how they’ve often found the type of freedom-through-connection that Soma strives to cultivate at dance clubs or in mosh pits at concerts. “Not every club or show,” they clarified. “Many lack the trust necessary to create this Soma-like experience, but I’ve been to shows here and a few other places that have felt like a form of therapy.”

I returned to P.I.T. two days later for a punk show, arriving between sets. People across the spectrum of punk aesthetics bled out onto the sidewalk, adhered in small clumps by lively conversation and cigarette smoke. The first-ever punk show hosted by mutual aid group Casa Gaza, “Land Back for Land Day” attracted people from around the city to celebrate Land Day with sets from local punk bands. Our sliding-scale donations to attend the show went to sustain Casa Gaza’s nearly two-year long commitment to a monthly donation of $500 to support a family from Gaza with living and medical expenses.

Separation between the musicians of NY-based band FOCO and the audience was ephemeral; the vocalist oscillated between the mic stand and the mosh pit. Drums, electric guitar, and passionate screams moved through the crowd like a gale through wind chimes. Bodies jumped and kicked and swayed and knocked into each other in a joyful expression of liberty and connection — a refreshing willingness to extend beyond individual bubbles and genuinely share space. The intention of the show, the messaging of the lyrics, the ideas swirling through audience conversation, the modes of interaction that emerged alongside the music: it was all about envisioning a freedom that started with us but extended far beyond. This was Soma in practice.

‘What I saw will stay with me for a long time:’ Mamdani visits Brooklyn housing court

BQE Admin on April 15, 2026

Tenant organizers rallying outside Brooklyn Housing Court. Photo by Luan Rogers.

BY LUAN ROGERS

DOWNTOWN  — Mayor Mamdani became the first sitting New York mayor to visit Housing Court when he came to the Brooklyn Civil Courthouse on Monday morning. After speaking with judges, lawyers, advocates and tenants, the mayor promised “to confront the concerns” he heard.

In a post on X, Mamdani said that “what I saw will stay with me for a long time.” He described seeing “families on the brink of losing their homes,” as well as tenants “searching for justice in an overwhelming system.”

While the Mayor was inside, tenant organizers and legal services workers led a rally for tenant protections outside the court house.

“We’re glad to see the mayor paying attention to the eviction crisis that New Yorkers are continuing to go through,” said Khadija Hussain, a campaign organizer with the Right to Counsel NYC Coalition. “We’re excited to work with the mayor’s office to protect tenants in housing court.”

Sabrina Simon, deputy director of the Flatbush Tenant Coalition, had hoped to get a chance to speak with the mayor. “We had arranged to participate in the walk through with the mayor but he ended up with the judges,” she said. “I thought he might come say hi, but he was rushed out of here.”

Other organizers were less than impressed with the mayor’s hasty departure from Housing Court. “He ran out on us,” said Rachel Cyprien, an activist with the People’s Coalition to Stop Deed Theft. “Shame on him,” she added.

Deed theft, an issue that disproportionately affects Black homeowners in New York, occurs when property titles are changed without the owner’s consent. According to an investigation by CBS New York, there has been a 240% increase in deed theft complaints from 2023 to 2025.

“We hope he saw the dehumanization that goes on in these courts,” said Omar Hardy, an organizer with the People’s Coalition To Stop Deed Theft. “That’s the first step,” he added. “But we’ve got a lot more work to do.”

After the mayor left, some members of the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants (MOPT) appeared with tenants outside. When asked whether the Right Counsel program will receive additional funding in the upcoming City budget, MOPT director, Cea Weaver, said that it was “too early to tell.”

Cea Wevaer, director of the Mayors Officer to Protect Tenants, speaks with Sherease Torain of the Peoples Coalition to Stop Deed Theft. Photo by Luan Rogers.

The City Council introduced the landmark Right to Counsel program in 2017. The first of its kind in the nation, the program provides free legal assistance to low-income tenants facing eviction. Tenants’ household income must be at or below 200% of the federal poverty line to qualify. The city is contracted with public defenders who then represent the tenants in housing court.

As eviction filings increase, public defenders are struggling to meet tenants’ demands for representation. Christina Brown, a public defender with the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG), explained how there are not enough lawyers to provide assistance. “Everyone who is qualified should get a lawyer in housing court,” she said. “We end up having to turn away eligible tenants.”

Brown identified issues with pro-landlord bias within the court. “Housing court really operates as an eviction bill and collection agency for landlords,” she said. An April 2025 report by the New York State Bar Association referred to the housing court process as “cattle-call justice” with each case receiving only limited individual attention because of the high volume of cases.

The City Council released the Preliminary Budget response last week, allocating $16.9 million for housing and domestic violence-related legal services. Meanwhile, advocates and public defenders have pushed for more funding amid ongoing budget negotiations.

“We have demanded that the city allocate at least $350 million for Right to Counsel in the budget,” said Hussain. “We hope that that’s what we get from the mayor.”

Indie Documentary Inspires Bed-Stuy Homecoming

BQE Admin on April 13, 2026

Edgar Guerra (left) films a segment with Tyrone Tillman (center) and Glenn Campbell outside Tompkins Houses in Bed-Stuy, where the trio grew up together. (Photo: Jack Delaney)

By Jack Delaney | jdelaney@queensledger.com 

BED-STUY — It was a sunny morning in Bed-Stuy, and three old friends were settling into their folding chairs.

As he does every year, Edgar Guerra had come down from Springfield, Massachusetts, to visit his childhood stomping grounds at Tompkins Houses.

But this time was slightly different: Accompanying Guerra was Tony Bass, a producer and director whom he tapped to help create a documentary that profiles the former Brooklynite.

The movie, tentatively titled “Mission Possible,” centers on Guerra’s budding career in the entertainment industry, which has grown from ad spots for a local solar company to a new role as a detective on a show called “Cutting Ties.”

To tell that story, however, Bass wanted to go back to the beginning. That’s why Glen Campbell and Tyrone Tillman, two of Guerra’s friends from his Tompkins days, were sitting outside the front lobby of “Headquarters,” waiting for the camera to roll.

“We love Edgar,” Campbell started off. “He was a little, skinny guy. He was friendly, never had a problem, his family brought him up right. And most of all I really appreciate him due to the fact that he comes back to his neighborhood.”

Talk quickly turned to another one of their mutual friends. Campbell, 70, lived on the 11th floor; Tyrone, 67, was on the 8th; Guerra’s family, four boys and four girls, were on the 5th; and the comedian Tracy Morgan, 57, who rocketed to fame on “SNL” and “30Rock,” grew up one floor down, on the 4th.

But before Morgan made his name, there was a different star on the block: Mark Breland, a boxer with a 110-1 career record who won gold at the 1984 Summer Olympics and posted five Golden Gloves, the most in the award’s history.

“One time I was sitting across the street with Tracy and little brother that passed away. When Mark came home from the Olympics, he was flooded by people on Park Avenue, so we went over there to congratulate him,” remembered Tillman.

Guerra tapped Tony Bass (left) to shoot and produce “Mission Possible.”

“Tracy looked at me and said, ‘I’m going to be bigger than Mark.’ I’ll never forget it. Me and my brother told him, Tracy, we’re not trying to hear that — Mark, this is his stage right now,” said Tillman. Then he smiled: “Well, as I come to find out, Tracy’s bigger than Mark. I haven’t seen him since when he became famous, in 20-something years.”

As a child, Guerra’s mother would dress him in the style of JFK, Jr., telling him that he was destined for greatness. But art and film fell by the wayside amid a string of big life changes: Guerra moved to Springfield in his teens to work at his uncle’s fish market, and his parents joined shortly after to start a restaurant in the area.

Now Guerra, 60, is looking to replicate Morgan’s rise to stardom, albeit on his own terms. For the past seven years, he has worked as a driver for a company that specializes in transporting passengers with disabilities, yet his mother’s passing five years ago reignited his interest in pursuing an acting career.

“This is what I always wanted to do, for years and years,” Guerra affirmed. “This is what my mother wanted me to do. It’s like what Tracy said — This is my time, it’s up to the man in heaven to make it happen.”

Guerra has found an ally in Bass, who left the IT department at Bear Stearns to launch a newsletter and entertainment magazine in Rhode Island called The City Beat. Eventually, he relocated to Springfield to start a business with his brother — who tragically passed away soon after they found an office. Bass stayed in town, where he has kept up his publication while running a recording studio and 24/7 radio station.

“I knew that communications in general was always going to be a big opportunity if you were able to get into it right and have good people around you,” said Bass, packing up his cameras.

Guerra and Bass have finished their initial round of filming. All that’s left is to follow Guerra as he throws himself into his latest TV role, and looks to make his mark as a professional actor.

“I want to give this a try,” said Guerra. “It’s been haunting me, and I can’t let this thing go by.”

Not-So-Green Point?

BQE Admin on April 9, 2026

The neighborhood still suffers from low park density, but there are more than enough lush springtime spots for those in the know. 

BY GEOFFREY COBB | gcobb91839@Aol.com

Author, “Greenpoint Brooklyn’s Forgotten Past

It is Spring, and my thoughts turn to flowers and gardens.

The enthusiastic, mirthful Peter J. McGuinness would always evoke laughter by referring to industrial Greenpoint as “The garden spot of Brooklyn,” or in one of his more enthusiastic outbursts as “The garden spot of the universe.” For late 19th and 20th century Greenpointers living in crowded tenements ringed by belching factories and foul, polluted air, calling our area “the garden spot” must have seemed like some kind of cruel, snarky joke, but for many years Greenpoint was a real garden spot and today it is still a home to many tiny, gorgeous gardens, often set in the unlikeliest of places.

Greenpoint was once a farming community, and every family had its own garden. There was once a huge hill running around the area of Franklin and Green Streets called Pottery Hill where wildflowers grew. The areas flowers were so pretty that courting couples sailed over from Manhattan to enjoy its beauty. However, the name Garden Spot derives from the Meserole Orchard, which once occupied a huge swath of land around Meserole Avenue. The garden was famous for its apples, and the beautiful apple blossoms each spring, but in what has become a familiar local story the real estate was too valuable and the orchard disappeared as lots were sold off for housing.

Greenpoint still lacks the park space that many other neighborhoods treasure. In 1889 State Senator Winthrop Jones helped secure Winthrop Park, which later became McGolrick Park. In the northwest corner of the park, there is the Paul Clinton garden, dedicated to a park worker. Under his supervision, the parks in this district won numerous awards including the “Greenest District Award.” Patrick McCarren had local streets and factories condemned to create the park that later would bear his name.

During World War I with millions of farmers sent off to fight there were food shortages and McCarren Park was planted as a huge victory garden, tended by local school kids.

After the end of the war, the city wanted to pull the plug on the victory gardens, but McGuinness realized that many kids loved the gardening and he threatened to bring busloads of local school children, rakes in hand, to the City Council to plead for further funding. His ploy worked and the gardens continued in the park for years after. During the sixties and seventies many buildings became abandoned and burned. One of these vacant lots at 61 Franklin Street became a small community garden, lovingly tended by local volunteers.

The Lentol Gardens is also a bucolic oasis on Bayard Street. The land for Lentol Garden was acquired by the city in 1946 during the creation of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and became parkland that same year. The Park was named for the father  of local Representative Joe Lentol, Edward Lentol who represented the area first in the Assembly and then in the State Senate for decades. In 1992, the park became known as the Lentol Gardens.

Today there is a new frontier for gardens: rooftops. Thanks to Broadway Stages our area has two unique gardens. The Eagle Street Rooftop Farm is an internationally acclaimed greenroof and commercially operated vegetable farm atop a three-story warehouse in Brooklyn, New York. On the shoreline of the East River, with a sweeping view of the Manhattan skyline, Eagle Street Rooftop Farm is a 6,000 square foot green roof organic vegetable farm.

Even More dramatic than the Eagle Street Rooftop garden is Kingsland Wildflowers, an oasis of wildflowers and birds atop a former industrial building in the heart of a zone of very heavy local industry. Opened in 2016, the garden is the conception of Marni Majorelle, founder of Alive Structures. Marni brought together local businesses and nonprofit organizations. The NYC Audubon manages the project and oversees green roof wildlife monitoring through bat and bird microphones and swallow houses installed on the green roof. Newtown Creek Alliance conducts research into land use, policy, and economic factors of green roof installation in industrial areas.

Greenpoint has a new park coming online, Bushwick Inlet Park. The 1.89-acre, waterfront green space, with $7.5 million in mayoral funding, includes smooth paths, a forest grove, an elevated lawn, a water feature, a family gathering area, an overlook and a plaza with sweeping views of the Manhattan skyline.

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