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More Swedish Christmas!.... page 12
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JANUARY 2025
The never ending Columbia Street traffic jam has an affect on business by Brian Abate
R
esidents and businesses in the Columbia Street Waterfront District have been dealing with extreme traffic along Columbia St. and throughout the neighborhood. ever since the BQE bottleneck under the Brooklyn Heights Promenade was introduced in 2022.
GIL GONZALEZ RETIRES
Driving just a few blocks can take 30 minutes or more as cars look to avoid the heavy traffic above.
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Mazzat, a Mediterranean restaurant at 208 Columbia St. and Mex Carroll’s Diner at 192 Columbia St. have both been affected by the traffic. “I drive to work and the traffic is very bad every day since what happened with the BQE,” said Jimmy Bakhoum, the owner of Mazzat, a long-time fixture on Columbia Street. “It used to be much easier. Now I come in from the BQE and get off at Hamilton Ave. and it takes at least 20 minutes just making the left from Hamilton to Columbia. I’ve had to adjust and leave earlier but some days the traffic is even worse than usual.”
MEDEA HOAR PAGE 13
The extreme traffic from the BQE has been going on for over a year but nothing has been done to significantly reduce it.
GOWANUS SMELL AGREEMENT PAGE 7
WALKING WITH COFFEE by R.J. Cirillo LIFE IN THE REEL WORLD I held onto my Nokia cell phone until it basically dissolved in my hand. Having observed people staring into their smartphones in a sort of hypnotic state I didn’t want to join the club. But it’s a
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“The traffic is certainly a concern and we’re waiting on DOT to improve signage in areas right off the BQE like Hicks St. and Columbia St.,” said Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon in February 2023. “That wouldn’t solve the problem but it should help make a difference. I understand the frustration with the traffic because I live with big club and you must join.
I wound up getting an iPhone 13, and Jane added Facebook and assorted apps and I became a full-fledged member, checking my phone every spare minute for the email that would change my life. Right. Then I started watching reels, 60 second bits of visual info. You click on one and could doom scroll forever! You can start on something like a bunch of Mountain Goats,
it myself, but right now the priority is protecting the triple cantilever. If the triple cantilever falls off a cliff, we will be in for a world of hurt which is much worse than the increased traffic.” Interestingly, New Yorkers are also still waiting for something to be done about the cantilever, a 0.4-mile-long section of the (BQE) that carries both eastbound and westbound traffic on separate levels under the Brooklyn Promenade. Construction to re-design the cantilever isn’t expected to start until 2029 according to a proposal that the City announced earlier in 2024. The road goes from three lanes down to two lanes in that section of the BQE. “The traffic also has a negative effect because the restaurant has some regular customers who usually come from Manhattan once a month,” said Bakhoum. “Now with the noise and pollution, not everyone wants to make the trip. Also, in the summer when the weather was warm, we would usually keep the doors open. Now we have to keep them shut most of the time.” Miguel Ramirez of Mex Carroll’s Diner at 192 Columbia St. thinks traffic has negatively affected his business. He has been a manager there since the diner opened in 2014. “I usually drive here early so I arrive before the traffic but I see it later in the day,” Ramirez said. “There’s always a lot of congestion. For other people, it can take an extra 30 minutes or more to get here. It’s tough to be completely sure but I think for some people, they just don’t want to deal with waiting in
scaling a sheer vertical rock wall (one my favorites) followed by, a heart surgeon with advice on surviving cardiac arrest followed by a voluptuous woman waking by in a bikini, followed by an expert saying should eat 12 eggs every day, followed by an expose of the Aliens who built the pyramids and are still living in hidden chambers beneath, followed by a bikini clad woman on a trampoline , followed by an expert saying not to eat vegetables
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Jimmy Bakhoum in front of his restaurant, Mazzat. (photo by Abate)
traffic to get here. “It feels like they’re always talking about different plans and ideas but now we need whoever is in charge to make a plan and follow through. This has been going on for a long time and a lot of people are frustrated.” For now, the frustration continues for residents and those who work in the Columbia Street Waterfront District. The traffic has made it very difficult to travel by car during rush hour, in addition to the pollution and safety concerns. “Whether you listen to Waze or check the Maps app on your phone, there is no way to avoid the traffic,” Bakhoum said. “We want to see the City get this done and deal with it but everything takes such a long time.”
because they will kill you, then a mongoose fighting a cobra, another expert advising to eat ONLY ribeye steaks, and then if you’re lucky some more mountain goats, this time being chased by a snow leopard. Taking a breath here. Now my boomer brain is pretty much calcified, so this stuff has little effect on me, but imagine the effect it will have on the current generation of teenagers who have total access to it.
How do they figure out what is REAL…. and what is just a REEL! It’s a sticky wicket! All very understandable sentiment but we can’t stay here (continued on page 12)
January 2025, Page 1
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Last call for night drones at Sunny’s by Joe Enright, photo courtesy Red Hook is Magic
I
was working the late shift at the Star-Revue HQ on Van Brunt Street, trying to finish my 2024 Year in Review piece (Spoiler Alert: It Sucked) when an argument about the current drone issue over New Jersey heated up over by the dry bar. It got so noisy that I decided to pick up my things and head over to friendlier surroundings.
ably loud but mellow voice, the product of 60 plus years surviving the Back, the Point, the Hook or whatever the hell they’re calling it now. He was urging Izzy to put his drink on a tab that hadn’t been paid since MSNBC had viewers.
still...
“Do me this solid, Izzy,” he pleaded, “and I’ll tell ya what’s really goin’ on with them drone-y thingies.” I got up and signaled Izzy I was buying as
Izzy was the first to react. “Chet, forget all that crazy shit. You were gonna tell us about the drones, remember?”
At Sunny’s, the after-work crowd had thinned out, leaving only us professional drinkers. Izzy poured my Dewar’s and I took it to a table by the wall where I started marking up my draft. Mahomes-Kelce-Swift-Super Bowl, Oppenheimer sweeps the Oscars. Hmmm…soooo 2023. Americans, preferring an empty suit to an empty dress, re-elect Trump…soooo 2016. Putin sends thousands more to their death, Hamas intentionally provokes a war to destroy Israel but instead Netanyahu destroys Gaza…Governments in France and Germany collapse, Sweden joins NATO, Syrian butcher Assad flees to Putin’s cold embrace… Mets and Yanks gives us some enjoyable playoff series…Jets and Giants give us epic grief…More unaffordable steel and glass apartments blot out the sky in Gowanus…The City finally experiments with a few truck unloading zones at a pace that might have some impact by 2040 while Citi Bike stations top 2,000…Congestion Pricing south of 60th Street at $15 a day is paused months before the election due to its unpopularity, then instantly reignited at a bargain rate of 9 bucks to stave off Trump before he assumes the throne…The City’s progressives take a buzzsaw to zoning, hoping it will solve a housing crisis, then lament that their legislation left one-and-two family neighborhoods still standing…Mayor Adams cancels his Istanbul luxury suite reservations as Bedminster becomes his favorite new destination… Hmmm…Bedminster…What is it with those damn drones? That’s when I heard Chet’s unmistak-
“It’s the North Koreans,” Chet announced, placing his glass down with emphasis. “They smuggled a nuke into Jersey from a sub along the Jersey shore and buried it somewhere near Bedminster.”
Chet chuckled. “OK, I’ll go a little slower. You know when the drones were first spotted?” “Around mid-November,” Izzy said. “Right. Tuesday, November 19th, exactly two weeks after the election, which is how long it would have taken Kim’s sub to evade detection and pop up alongside that looong Jersey coast and send a disassembled nuke ashore. Operation Blackmail Trump completed: give Pyongyang a Trump Tower or they blow that stinking golf course to smithereens. Also the rest of Jersey and downstate New York too at no additional charge.”
Outside Sunny's
I plopped down on the stool next to the man who practically invented the phrase word on the street. I asked Chet to give me the birdseye lowdown on the drones caper so I could put the dry-bar argument to Bedminster…er…bed when I returned to HQ. And if the tip was solid, maybe I could plug it into my 2024 review article. “It’s simple, really,” Chet said after draining his Jameson’s in one gulp, looking all calm and mellow. I waited. Chet smiled, pointing at his empty glass and as always, Izzy was right there to accommodate a customer who could now pay, except this time I sensed our barkeep was just as interested to hear about the drones as me. After all, Chet was the first one to tell us that Fairway would be closing. Of course, he also told us it would be replaced by a Tiffany’s outlet store but
“Chet,” I barked, feeling I wasn’t getting my money’s worth, “if you want another shot, you gotta get off your nuke theory and tell us your drone theory.” “OK, OK! Those drones are ours. They’re equipped with radiation detectors looking for Kim’s nuke.” Chet motioned to his glass again and Izzy poured him a shot, muttering “Bullshit,” as he wandered off to tend to a new customer. The next day, on the Forbes Newsroom Channel, I heard China expert Gordon Chang, say: “We are seeing all sorts of theories. Many are plausible, many are ominous. The drones may be seeking out a possible North Korean nuclear threat.” Imagine that – buttoned-down Gordon Chang also drinks at Sunny’s.
with thanks to my folks
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January 2025
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Which came first, the chicken or the egg? by George Fiala
T
he map above shows the land formerly owned by the Port Authority that is being transferred over to the NYC Economic Development Corporation sometime this year. Their repurposing project, titled Vision for Brooklyn Marine Terminal, has been stressing the upgrading and modernization of the Red Hook Container Terminal, which under the Port Authority has been ill maintained and in jeopardy of losing their piers due to disrepair, something that had been the responsibility of the Port Authority. The EDC set up a task force that is supposed to guide them in that vision, aligning it with the surrounding communities, which include Cobble Hill, the Columbia Waterfront District and Red Hook. It was assumed from the beginning that some of the acreage would be used for parks, some for housing, some for the Cruise Terminal, and the majority for an upgraded shipping center that would align with the Blue Highway vision for the city that would take trucks off the road, use the waters in an environmentally sensitive way, and help the city get to its climate goals. Jim Tampakis, a member of the Task Force who we interviewed a few
months ago, calling him Red Hook's visionary, has called for using all the piers, including Pier 7, which is across Atlantic Avenue from Brooklyn Bridge Park, for maritime use. He says that this could all be made financially selfsustaining, as well as getting a huge amount of trucks off the road. To be honest, I'm not 100% aware of other community plans that are being advocated by local groups. I'm not saying that there aren't any, but aside from groups in the Columbia Waterfront District who are fighting for the removal of a concrete facility across from Kane Street, nothing has come across my desk, or my computer, except for demands to slow down the process, which the EDC did do by three months. I have heard second-hand that a NYCHA activist that is on the Task Force, has been lobbying for improvements at the Red Hook Houses, something well received by the EDC. But basically, aside for things that people do not want, a community plan to counter the EDC proposal has seemingly not emerged. On December 18th, the Task Force met to start talking about port uses and land use (AKA buildings). I received access to their printed
handout, a stapled colorful document totaling 45 pages. The first part of the meeting, and the document (which I assume was their Powerpoint presentation) had to do with port uses. But then, on page 36 of the document, they begin talking about how to pay for it (I guess a modern working harbor, despite it being important for national security, among other things), is not meant to be paid entirely by city and state government. The "Opportunities to Generate Revenue" are divided into "Housing, Hotel and Public Grants." The report then presents a number of pages of figures that are meant to justify their bottom line. They project a deficit of between $27 and $119 million dollars for the port operation and a little more than $2 billion to prepare the land for future use, including the maritime upgrades. When you get to the second to last page, they reveal that what they say is needed for their plan (which I suspect has been their plan for a long time), is that "Housing" has to contribute between $1.5 to $2.1 billion to the BMT Vision. At the end of the very last page, it is revealed that this figure translates into around 7,000 - 9,000 homes (apart-
ment units). I was told that by the time they got to this at the closed Task Force meeting, which was held at Sacred Hearts and St. Stephen Church on Summit Street, they were just about out of time for any discussion. And basically, except for members like the Fifth Avenue Committee, who are basically real estate developers, everyone was stunned, not to mention a bit upset. As was I, when I found out about it that evening at an event I attended at Marco Polo's. Up until then I naively assumed that the extension of Brooklyn Bridge Park that the governor spoke about at an initial press conference, would include perhaps 4 condo towers around Pier 7. I actually have been throwing my idea around of moving the ballfield and tennis courts on the other side of Columbia Street there into the park, and using that area for two of them, using even less space for housing. But what they are talking about is the same as the number of new units that are being built right now in Gowanus. If you haven't seen how Gowanus is changing, go look. I hope that this information can be used by those who fear the gentrification that this would bring.
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January 2025, Page 3
SHORT SHORTS: By Nathan and Brian
Join a Community Board
On Dec. 11, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso opened applications for city residents to join Brooklyn’s 18 community boards. Community boards, the most grassroots level of local government, are local bodies that weigh in on topics ranging from local land use matters to liquor licenses, transportation projects, and more. Now through February 14, 2025, eligible New York City residents 16 years and older are encouraged to learn more and apply at the Borough President’s Website under the Community Board section. Community boards meet each month from September through June at an accessible, in-district location. All board members are required to attend the monthly meeting in person, as well as to join a committee and attend their committee’s meeting. The anticipated monthly time commitment is 6 to 8 hours. There are two parts to the application process for new applicants. First, you must fill out an application with information about you and your interest in joining a Brooklyn community board. Then, you will be scheduled for a brief, virtual conversation with a member of the Brooklyn Borough President’s team. Applicants will later be notified of a decision once board selections have been made.
Events at the Brooklyn Museum an author, for the New York launch Brooklyn to Manhattan, creating inSalsa Party will take place on Jan. 9 from 6-9:30 pm. The event is free but registration is encouraged since a limited number of tickets will be available at the door. Celebrate the art of salsa and join in our monthly dance-filled evenings hosted by Balmir Dance Society! Start the night with a class led by professional dancers at 6 pm, followed by live music, social dancing, and performances by Brooklyn’s best Latin dance teams.
Laura Ortman Performance will take place on Jan. 12 from 2-4 pm. Free with museum admission. Drop by to hear Ortman, a violinist and composer present a soundscape that reflects on ideas of home. Sunday Art Hang will take place on Jan. 12, 19, and 26 from 2-4 pm. Free with museum admission. Bring the family to explore our galleries and exhibitions, from ancient Egyptian masterpieces to contemporary artworks. At this free drop-in program, held on select Sundays, you’ll look closely at an object and create art inspired by the work. Brooklyn Poetry Slam will take place on Jan. 15 from 7-9 pm. Register in advance and pay as you wish (suggested admission: $10.) Amplify the voices of Brooklyn at a series of pay-what-youcan slams, presented by poets and cofounders Mahogany L. Browne and DJ Jive Poetic. Come to listen to poets, or arrive early to sign up if you’d like to join the slam (limited availability). Brooklyn Reads: In Open Contempt with Irvin Weathersby Jr. will take place on Jan. 16 from 7-9 pm. Tickets are $15. Gather with Weathersby,
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of In Open Contempt, which reckons with U.S. monuments, street signs, and schools named after slaveowners, segregationists, and white supremacists.
Artist’s Eye: Yashua Klos on Elizabeth Catlett will take place on Jan. 18 from 12-1 pm. Tickets are $25. Take a close look at our special exhibition Elizabeth Catlett: A Black Revolutionary Artist and All That It Implies in an intimate tour with contemporary artist Yashua Klos. During this tour, Klos highlights key works in the exhibition and shares how Catlett’s legacy has informed his own practice. Teacher Workshops: MLK Day of Action will take place on Jan. 20 from 9:30 am–12 pm and 1–3:30 pm. Registration is $20 for one session and $30 for the full day; lunch will be provided for full-day participants. Educators: honor Martin Luther King Jr. Day by joining our annual day of action, featuring two professional development workshops. Attend one session or stay for the whole day to explore strategies for leveraging the arts to build and sustain community in the classroom and beyond. Art History Happy Hour: Arts of Asia will take place on Jan. 23 from 7-9 pm. Tickets are $30 and include one specialty drink and after-hours admission to the Arts of Asia galleries. Kick off the 2025 season of Art History Happy Hour with an evening of lighthearted and informative lectures celebrating Lunar New Year and a new display of Japanese prints. Teen Night: Teens Parkway will take place on Jan. 24 from 5–7:30 pm. The event is free but registration in encouraged. Open to those ages 14-19. Celebrate Brooklyn’s creativity and 14 years of the Brooklyn Museum’s Teen Nights, a teen-led program centered on art and activism! This evening will feature art-making, performances, and much more, all inspired by The Brooklyn Artists Exhibition, a major group show uniting more than 200 artists.
NYU Langone upgrades Sunset Park faciity
NYU Langone Heart has expanded the scope of services offered in Sunset Park. Recently renovated catheterization laboratories and the addition of nationally known cardiac electrophysiologists now allow Brooklynites to undergo complex percutaneous coronary interventions, cardiac electrophysiology procedures, and other advanced heart procedures in Sunset Park. Previously, patients requiring advanced procedures had to travel from
conveniences for both patients and their families. This expansion streamlines care and eliminates the need for most of these relocations, making specialized cardiac treatment more accessible than ever. “With heart disease being the leading cause of death in the United States, the expansion of our cardiac capabilities significantly improves our ability to provide advanced, world-class care right here in Brooklyn and continue to make an impactful difference in our patients’ lives,” said Dr. Felix Yang.
Goldman boasts resiliency grant
On Dec. 10, Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) secured the authorization of $160 million. The money will go toward environmental infrastructure improvements as well as the authorization of measures mandating a comprehensive flood protection plan for the New York-New Jersey Harbor following the House of Representatives passage of the bipartisan ‘Water Resources Development Act’ (WRDA) of 2024. “As extreme weather events continue to threaten the stability and safety of coastal communities, it remains the federal government’s moral imperative to ensure our communities’ protection,” Goldman said. “I am incredibly proud to have secured critical wins for our communities in this latest WRDA legislation, which will improve water management infrastructure in New York and Brooklyn and ensure that New Yorkers are protected from the multitude of flooding hazards that threaten our city. Now that the House of Representatives has passed these measures, I look forward to Senate passage and President Biden fulfilling his obligation to sign WRDA into law.” Congressman Jerry Nadler said “I am proud to have worked to secure the authorization of $60 million in environmental infrastructure improvements for Manhattan and language ensuring a comprehensive flood protection plan for the New York-New Jersey Harbor. “Twelve years after the devastation of Superstorm Sandy, New York City continues to face growing risk from the climate crisis. That’s why I have pushed hard to secure critical funding and provisions to safeguard our communities and strengthen their resilience to future climate challenges. As Dean of the New York Congressional Delegation, I’ll continue advocating for improved water infrastructure and management to address future flooding in Manhattan and throughout New York City.”
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January 2025
LETTERS to the Editor: Shop locally always!
Why not celebrate Small Business Saturday, November 30th by shopping locally every day of the year. Small independent businesses are at the mercy of suppliers, who control the price they have to pay for merchandise. The employees go out of their way to help find what I need. Customer service is their motto. As an independent mom and pop store, they don’t have bulk buying purchasing power that Amazon or large national chain stores have. This is why they sometimes charge a little more. It is worth the price to avoid the crowds and long lines at larger stores in exchange for the convenience and friendly service your neighborhood community store offers. Our local entrepreneurs have continued the good fight to keep their existing staff and suppliers employed without layoffs and canceling supply orders. They work long hours, pay taxes and keep people employed. Customers patronize other commercial establishments on the block. Foot traffic is essential for the survival of any neighborhood commercial district. The owners of independent mom and pop stores are the backbone of our neighborhood commercial districts. Show your support by making a purchase. —Larry Penner
False promise
We just read your article regarding TOPA and COPA. We are in favor of real tenant opportunities and there
are some concerns that the “Tenant Opportunity” to Purchase Act (TOPA) is a False Promise. When we investigated TOPA and COPA, we noticed that the following cities did not pass them due to numerous concerns: 1. Richmond, CA (considered and unanimously halted TOPA/COPA by the council on 9/17/2019) 2. Berkeley, CA (considered on 3/5/2020, 5/20/2021, 1/27/2022, 9/30/2024 did not pass due to numerous concerns) 3. East Palo Alto, CA (2021, halted completely in 2023) Why did they do this? TOPA has been in DC since 1980 and it didn’t spread across the country because there of problems. In 2018, the DC council took into account TOPA’s decades of history and hours of public testimony before voting to remove properties from TOPA restrictions, including homes, condos, and townhouses. When we follow the money trail it seems under TOPA, most of the funds were gong to the bureaucracy. We favor giving millions in housing funds DIRECTLY to tenants. Low-income tenants need rental assistance. Tenant buyers need downpayment assistance. TOPA would also divert limited funds that could be used to help homeless residents When TOPA and COPA were proposed in the above cities, concerned citizens raised numerous issues on these websites: stoptopa.org and no2topa.org. How would you address these concerns? — taptango@gmail.com.
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January 2025, Page 5
Rooftop ceremony at PS 58
O
n Dec. 10, City officials, students, and teachers met with the press on the roof of P.S. 58 at 330 Smith St. for a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of the installation of solar panels, part of a city wide initiative.. “At DCAS [Department of Citywide Administrative Services,] part of our mission is to help the City push toward major emissions reductions and usher in innovative climate initiatives,” said Louis Molina, Commissioner of DCAS. “Today I’m proud and excited to announce the completion of New York City’s largest solar array project to date, an $85 million investment in
“I feel like adults could have done way more because they’ve been around for way longer than us.” clean and renewable energy. These installations will dramatically reduce energy costs, improve air quality, and lower each school’s carbon footprint.” The total number of schools with solar panels is now up to 104 creating a potential of 22.5 megawatts of electricity. “We’re very proud to say that at P.S. 58 and throughout the city, our solar installations are a part of how our students are learning,” said Emma Vadehra, another City functionary. “Solar work is critical as is other climate work. Our schools are the back-
Page 6 Red Hook Star-Revue
by Brian Abate
bones of communities not just because we’re teaching kids to read, not just because we’re educating the climate leaders of the future, but also because we’re ahead of the curve in composting.” The roof was a fitting location for the ribbon-cutting ceremony as one of PS 58's clubs is the Green Team. They meet regularly with a focus A major press event was created at PS 58 marking the activiation of new solar energy cells. on environmental sustainability, and members of the Green Team to do the same on a larger scale with making posters. We made some to tell also spoke during the ceremony as the addition of solar panels on top of people about how important it is to school buildings. put trash in the right bin and that one did Principla Katie Dello Stritto. person can make a big impact.” “We are a proud zero-waste school At P.S. 58, members of the Green Team and we are proud winners of the Su- are looking to make a difference both While New York City is making progress, students believe there is more per Recyclers Award,” Dello Stritto for the school and the community. said. “Our Green Team is made up “Schools are big buildings,” said Fe- that can be done and more that of students who work year after year lix, a fifth grader at P.S. 58 and a mem- should have been done already. to encourage sustainability, not only inside our school but outside of our school and in the community at large. Never has there been a group of students more excited to be on a rooftop and talk about solar energy.” In 2016 P.S. 58 won a Super Recycling Award as they went from not having a systemic recycling program in 2014 to recycling almost 75 percent of the school’s waste in 2016. They did so by using signage throughout the building and by having students become recycling captains. The school serves as an example of how significant changes to become more sustainable can be made in a short amount of time. Now, New York City is looking
ber of the Green Team. “They can sustain hundreds, sometimes thousands of people. I’m in a school with over 750 students and 100 staff members. My school is a big place. If we can show other people that solar panels can sustain entire school buildings, then people will realize that they too can use solar panels for buildings like homes, restaurants, hospitals, and places that can save lives. Kids can learn about renewable energy, shape their future, and make it a better one.”
“I feel like adults could have done way more because they’ve been around for way longer than us,” said Felix. “Sometimes I feel like adults just say, ‘Oh, yeah, climate change,’ and then they just dismiss it, and they don’t really think about it. I feel like that’s a big problem because adults can make a difference. They just don’t think about it. I think that if more kids learn about it, when they become adults then they can actually do something about it.”
“I enjoy being on Green Team a lot,” said Annabelle, who is also a fifth grader at 58. “It makes you feel good, knowing you change people’s perspectives on trash and recycling. One thing I enjoy doing on Green Team is
The press event was staged by the NY Office of Energy and Sustainability to create awareness of the solar energy program and resulted in a story not only here but in the NY Daily News.
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January 2025
Cautious optimism on the Gowanus smell front
I
n December, The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), overseen by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), began the second phase of construction of Gowanus’s two Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) tanks after pausing work since August. Because of the design of the much of New York’s sewer system, where stormwater and sewage water both go through the same pipe, it can easily be overburdened by rainwater; if that happens, the water is diverted from the pipe leading to the water treatment plant, to the nearest body of water. In Gowanus, this means that about 40 million gallons of untreated sewage water enters the Gowanus Canal every year. The CSO tanks are part of the Superfund cleanup of the canal, and once finished in the first half of the 2030s, will capture the sewage water and store it there until it can be pumped back into the sewer system and the treatment plant. But construction of the “Red Hook” tank, located at the top of the east side of the canal between Butler Street and Sackett Street, has been mired by community complaints. As highlighted in our September issue, ever since the first phase of work started in the fall of 2023, residents of the area have experienced noxious odors coming from the construction site, with varying — and often lacking — levels of responsibility taken by the involved agencies. Phase 1 involved driving concrete panels down to bedrock along the perimeter of the site to support removing the soil that will give room to the future sewage holding tank. To build the wall, workers had to excavate soil 200 feet down; the dug-up soil, which was contaminated with coal tar and other chemicals, emitted odors that on some days was strong and potent enough to reach far beyond the tank site, according to neighbor testimonies. Many community members were, therefore, concerned that the second phase of construction — excavating the soil within the perimeter wall — would result in more headache (literally — some residents reportedly got headaches from smelling the site). Both DEP and EPA have maintained that this part of construction will not lead to as much odors, as excavation will be conducted at a much shallower depth, where the soil is not as contaminated. DEP presented four options to EPA for Phase 2 of construction. Three of them involved a tent — either a tent covering the entire site or a tent covering half of it which could be moved — while the fourth one meant accelerating the work and shorten it by about half, from ten months to five. During multiple Gowanus Community Advisory Group (CAG) meetings during the fall, members of the CAG asked DEP and EPA that the commu-
Red Hook Star-Revue
by Oscar Fock
nity would get a say in which of the four options the agencies would move forward with. In the end, EPA directed DEP to proceed with the fourth option — the accelerated timeline — with no community input, but the federal agency instead called a public meeting to explain the next steps, answer questions and clarify what steps would be taken to make sure odors are monitored and acted on more stringently. On Dec. 10, representatives from EPA and DEP presented to the community a detailed plan for phase 2 of construction. Tom Mongelli, remedial proj-
“If the measures prove to be ineffective, EPA is prepared to stop work and direct DEP to construct a tent over the excavation before work can proceed,” ect manager at EPA, began by giving an overview of the Gowanus Canal cleanup and the CSO tank project, as well as what air monitoring had been conducted during the first phase. He was followed by Dr. Lora Smith, human health risk assessor at EPA, who went into further detail on the results of the past year’s air monitoring. “In order to move forward with an accelerated plan, we knew we’d have to put every health protection and mitigation measure available into place. So, not only do we need to protect public health, but also manage the odors, which might not be detected at a level of health concern, but have very much impacted the community,” she said. “We are sensitive to these concerns and they have been taken into consideration in the updated approach.” According to the data collected around the tank site, levels of naphthalene, a carcinogen chemical that smells like mothballs, were below a health-based level of concern. Naphthalene can have a strong odor, meaning that even at levels far below what would constitute a health hazard, it can still be smelt in the air, Dr. Smith noted. During the next phase of work, Mongelli then shared, there will be increased air monitoring and enhanced mitigation measures, to minimize the impact of the work on neighbors’ quality of life. “If the measures prove
to be ineffective, EPA is prepared to stop work and direct DEP to construct a tent over the excavation before work can proceed,” Mongelli added. Examples of the additional monitoring tools the agencies will use, Dr. Smith said, is a Trace Atmospheric Gas Analyzer (TAGA) bus and naphthalene dosimeter sensors. The TAGA bus — of which there are only two in the entire United States — can measure naphthalene at the parts-per-billion level, as can the dosimeters. EPA has also increased its air monitoring requirements. It’s maximum acceptable limit of naphthalene for the entire project — three parts per billion — is set based on chronic toxicity value, meaning that if someone were to be exposed naphthalene at the level EPA has set for their entire life, that person wouldn’t see any deleterious effects, according to Dr. Smith. (Of course, the CSO tank construction will likely not go on for more than an decade.) If data on total volatile organic compounds collected through the Comprehensive Air Monitoring Program exceed one part per million, work at the site will also be paused. Overall, the federal agency has been conservative when setting its limits on naphthalene and other potentially harmful chemicals. During the question-and-answer portion of the meeting, it appeared that some community members remained wary and skeptical that DEP and EPA
would deliver on their promises of increased air monitoring and mitigation. But there was also cautious optimism, with multiple people voicing their appreciation for EPA and DEP’s efforts to find a solution that takes into account the concerns of the community. It does remain unclear what will cause EPA to halt work at the site. Mongelli couldn’t give a threshold for number of complaints or what criteria the agency would use to make the determination, but he said that he hoped that the data, which will be reviewed daily, would show trends that EPA and DEP could quickly act upon if needed. Dr. Smith clarified that EPA will look at both the quantity and magnitude of the concentration of naphthalene, as well as the quantity and magnitude of the odor complaints, when determining whether to halt the work. Phase 2 is scheduled to be complete by summer 2025.
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January 2025, Page 7
New fields lure soccer league to Red Hook by Brian Abate
R
ed Hook Football Club is the highest level soccer team in Brooklyn and its leaders are looking to build a club with social justice at its core. The team plays its home games right at the newly renovated Red Hook Soccer Fields.
Weiss also listed three lower-division clubs in the US that are sustainable and do a lot for their community: Vermont Green, Detroit City, and Oakland Roots. They serve as an example for how Red Hook FC can be successful and sustain that success over a long period of time.
“This actually started because I needed to find a place to play that was at a decent level,” said Sacha Weiss, founder of Red Hook FC and also an outside back for the team. “I was looking at different options and there was nothing that great in the downtown Brooklyn and downtown Manhattan area but there were options out in Yonkers and deep into Long Island. Trying to keep things more local, I thought to myself ‘If it doesn’t exist, why not go and create it.’ We’ve existed formally since last spring.”
“All three of them have thousands of supporters come to their games week in and week out,” Weiss said. “They stand for more than just something sports-related. They stand for different social justice initiatives. Vermont Green is focused on environmental justice. They were able to bring in not only sports fans but also people who were interested in the environmental justice part of what the team stands for.
There are six tiers of soccer in the United States and Red Hook FC began in the sixth tier (the lowest level.) The top level is Major League Soccer (MLS) which includes New York City FC and the New York Red Bulls. Red Hook FC, then under the name Albion Brooklyn won every game they played in the spring so they were promoted to the fifth tier. Then in the fall, they finished third in their division in the fifth tier which earned the team another promotion to the fourth tier which is a semi-pro level. “The dream is for us to one day make the jump from being a semi-pro team to being a professional team,” Weiss said.
“For us, it’s amazing to have these two promotions but the next step is figuring out how to make this sustainable, and we need to get people to care. What’s a better way to do that than doing things that actually help the community? One thing we’re doing is free marketing and advertising for non-profits. We’re also doing different themes for each match day. For example, one match day will be food justice which is important given a lot of the community is on nutritional assistance programs. Instead of having tickets, people can give a can of food when they go to the match.” While Weiss mentioned some possibilities, there is still plenty of time for new game-day ideas. As for the roster of Red Hook FC,
Photo provided by Sacha Weiss of Red Hook FC
it is a mixture of players from different backgrounds. Some are top high school players while others are former professional players. They trained together in the cold weather while most teams were enjoying the offseason which helped the team build chemistry. “The age range of our players goes from 16 or 17 to 37 years old,” Weiss said. “There are also 21 different nationalities which make up the group which I think is really cool. We have African players, European players, and Latin players. We also have two really good players from Red Hook. A lot of players are from the Bronx and New Jersey. Our captain played third division in Spain and was also captain at the University of Vermont.”
FC, he is not involved in decisions like who makes the squad and which players will be in the starting lineup. That is completely up to the club’s coach. Weiss is unsure if he will continue playing given the amount of work he is doing behind the scenes to make sure the club is set up to succeed. He has certainly been busy during the offseason this winter. Red Hook FC resumes play for the spring season in April. “I’m proud of the success we’ve had so far but we want to make sure we do this the right way,” Weiss said. “That means being engaged with the community and doing things that help the community. You need the right culture to have sustainable success and that’s what we want to build.”
While Weiss is founder of Red Hook
DEAR READER
You can help the Star-Revue provide even more neighborhood news this year. In the past few months a number of new businesses have opened up here, including a bank on Van Brunt Street and a restaurant in the long dormant Rocky Sullivan's space. They don't seem to think that local advertising in a real newspaper has any value. You could tell them that you are a faithful reader and would love to see their ads here. The more we work together, the more we are together.
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January 2025
I’ve been going to bars lately because it’s cold outside, people in bars have loose tongues, and it’s easy to talk to them. Today I went into the Strong Rope Brewery on the waterfront and asked customers and bartenders a provocative question for the January issue: What are your feelings about Luigi Mangione? For those of you who have been living under a rock, Luigi Mangione is a 26-year-old from Baltimore, MD who shot and killed Brian Thompson, the CEO of United Healthcare, on December 4 in the middle of Manhattan. He’s being held in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. After his arrest the internet erupted with supporters who consider the assassination an act of heroism on behalf of the millions of sick Americans who have been denied health insurance coverage. Richie, enjoying a beer with his dog, Ringo, at his side: From the getgo the footage of the shooting was very sensational, almost like we were watching a movie, it almost reminded me of a Jason Bourne or 007 fantasy. And even within the first day there was speculation about the shooter’s motive, because of who the shooting victim was. And I don’t even think I was influenced by social media posts, but right away I thought about how many claims that company denies every year, and okay, murder is bad, but I could the shooter as a kind of Robin Hood figure, like well, maybe he’s not the worst guy in the world. And you have to wonder why this shooting is receiving as much attention as it does. People get shot every single day. And just because this guy who got shot was connected to a lot of money, it’s suddenly more relevant than all the other shootings? Okay, he did have a family and everything. And I want to make myself have compassion for him. But I just don’t have much compassion for a corporate CEO that’s basically responsible for killing thousands of people. Bartenders Katie Spurgin and Brianna Halstead: Katie: I think that the health insurance industry is a scam, and that insurance companies are murdering people every day, and I don’t have any sympathy for the man who was killed and that might sound harsh, but these are my personal feelings. I’m excited by the response from people
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across the country. So you had a positive response. Yeah, I feel it’s like an awakening of a class consciousness. I mean I don’t want more people to die, I want more people to live, and families have been torn apart and lives have been destroyed by the health insurance industry, and I’m hoping that bringing more attention to the issue will eventually do some good. Brianna: The stuff that they do is worse than what Mangione did. Like using AI to take our
everyone is saying, hey, that guy is in our favor. They’re trying to accuse him of terrorism because later, if we protest, they can call us terrorists. Group sitting around a table: Guy #1: It made me think about how the media perceives attractiveness as an important feature. Like maybe if he looked different he wouldn’t be such a big deal. Guy #2: I’m not surprised that people have embraced the act of doing this. It’s a less-thanideal way to bring up some really big questions about how insurance companies control the fate of so many people. So that definitely tapped into something. Assassination as a political act probably goes
PEOPLE OF
RED HOOK by Lisa Gitlin
Where we talk to anyone. This month we went to the Strong Rope Brewery. parents off life-saving drugs that they need. They do these calculations, like, well, if this results in the death of this many people, I can make this much more money, So I feel fine about my calculation that it’s okay that this one person died, because he would have kicked any of us down the drain. My father has COPD and he has to get his medication from Canada because the drugs here are so expensive. I just had to go to the doctor for a serious allergic reaction, and I had to buy shampoo that costs four hundred dollars. I had to get a pre-authorization and wait a bunch of days for them to tell me I could have it. And then they didn’t even pay for it, they just gave me a bunch of coupons. It’s a big racket. I had to pay for a portion of it, and if I have to use this stuff every day, and they don’t want to pay for it, it makes it harder for me to work. The last two weeks I’ve had a hard time at my job, because my skin gets so irritated, but I need my job. Katie: That perp walk today and the way they villainize this man is only putting him on a higher pedestal, because
back to the earliest civilization. But it’s surprising how many people have accepted what happened to this person. It had to do less with the person himself than what he stood for. It’s not about him being a dad, or a husband… It’s almost like he wasn’t considered an actual person. Yes. Like an actual human. Guy #3: All of a sudden my friends were messaging me, saying stuff like, oh no, I can’t wear this backpack anymore, because that was part of the description of the killer. It’s ridiculous, and I’m really not interested in it. I’ve got way more important things on my mind. But it is interesting how much attention it’s gotten. Yes. People are putting tattoos of him on their bodies. He’s being idolized. Guy #2: I think people feel cut off from controlling all the ways that we live. And someone who goes outside our system, who goes against our social codes to do something like this to make a point may seem…heroic. Because people feel like the normal means of changing things aren’t working.
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Have you been affected by it? There’s a metal shop down the alley and I interrupted metal fabricators Julian and Troy who were busy renovating their premises. Julian: The health insurance companies are the real criminals. I think it’s entirely understandable that someone would do something like that. Troy: My thoughts are kind of complicated because it’s been very interesting seeing the response to a person’s murder in broad daylight. And I think it’s been good in terms of bringing out conversations about how messed up the healthcare industry is, and how corrupt the system is, but oh God, an act of violence like that… You have mixed feelings? For sure. Because if people start barging into homes, and murdering families…I mean this was an isolated event, on the street, but if people take up this kind of call, and it starts happening to other people, to politicians – the cycle of violence can get out of hand. And then it becomes counterproductive to the cause of calling attention to the corrupt nature of the health insurance industry. You also have been concerns about the insurance system? I have. I’ve had family members that have gone through terrible experiences. My father passed away because of health insurance issues. He had a stroke, and he didn’t have enough health insurance for good physical therapy, and he slowly got worse and worse. Drew Balaika, walking down the alley after his bartending shift at Strong Rope: I think two things can be true at the same time. The healthcare system can be very detrimental for the average American, and murder can still be wrong. And I think it’s unfortunate that people can feel so powerless that this is the route that they take. Like that guy in Colorado twenty years ago who destroyed all those buildings with a bulldozer. It’s not something new for people to take matters into their own hands and become vigilantes, and sometimes they become kind of a folk hero. I don’t agree with Mangione’s choices. But I’d be the first person to say our health care system is pretty busted.
It’s definitely affected my life. I’m on Medicaid, and I’m a bartender and my annual pay is in flux. If I make too much my Medicaid can be taken away. I thought I might need a fresh perspective and drove over to Food Bazaar. I introduced myself to Bill Carroll as he was pushing his shopping cart. Bill: Well, this is obviously an intelligent guy. He has a good record in school and he comes from a family that’s fairly well-off. They seem to care about him. They hired a lawyer for him down in Pennsylvania to prevent him from being extradited to New York. I actually feel sorry for him, and I feel sorry for his family. I’m sure they’re all broken over this. But it was murder, there’s no question about it. How do you feel about the reaction? Lots and lots of people are glorifying him. Well, lots and lots of people voted for Donald Trump too. But so much of this comes down to guns. All kinds of guns. And unregistered guns. I think it’s outrageous that they still don’t have strict rules about who gets to buy a gun. The constitution allows it, but it’s not for the purpose that these guys use them for. It was never intended for use of weapons like the AR 15s, or even military weapons, whether they’re M16s, or like the Russian guns, the AK 47s. I don’t see why we should have to explain that to people.
I greeted my friend Venus Trujillo while she was closing out her register: Venus: He’s getting all these fans because there are a lot of people who are denied health insurance and they need it. My wife had spinal surgery, and this is expensive, and the insurance company gave her a hard time. I don’t believe in taking anyone’s life, but it’s possible for someone to get so frustrated that they take matters into their own hands.
January 2025, Page 9
Will we ever grow up? by Dario Pio Muccilli, Star-Revue EU correspondent
2025 has happened. The 21st century has officially begun his quarter life crisis.
A
ccording to many psychologists, that is a time when young adults enter the real world and experience anxiety, sorrow, insecurity and doubt. In other words, the world has just graduated from college and still does not know what to do for a living.
But yet he managed to get out of his own mud and to build a new house where he could live calmer. Of course, old habits were hard to quit, occasionally he fired some bullets – although not in the western living room – or threatened to drop some very huge bomb.
Older generations do not understand these problems, they are tougher and see their sons as weaklings. That is probably what 21’s father, the twentieth century, would have thought if he had survived the 2000s. He had no time for a quarter life crisis: world wars, authoritarianism, economic crises and genocides stormed his childhood until his forties. His father, the 19th century, did not leave him other than a cult for violence, revenge and militarism.
Anyway, he attempted to create the best conditions for his son to grow up peacefully. Notwithstanding the stormy first years of his childhood, 21 was too young to understand the consequences and rather began to embrace idealism and enthusiasm, believing he would be better than his ancestors. He accumulated growth, called meetings, enhanced the organizations his father built, with the ambition of addressing the problems his
elders couldn’t solve: climate crisis, poverty, racism, all of that while maintaining the peace. Nevertheless, during the pandemic, like every other student in the world, he was locked down at home and lost friends and socialization. He didn’t learn notions. He didn’t acquire any know-how. Something in his learning failed, because today, although four years have passed, he is simply making the wrong choices. He largely ignores the climate crisis, creating partisanships on an issue which is neither right nor left-wing. He does not care about income inequalities and lay-offs that fill the streets with desperation. He despises migrants but does nothing to change the causes of their mi-
gration. He even failed to maintain peace. Rather he closes himself each day in a single room of the mansion he inherited from his father, and he always assumes that is the better and safest place to stay away from his anxiety. And all the problems, all the bad people are outside, like the ghost many babies fear will catch them if they take their feet out of the blanket. He does not understand that each room is like the others, the problems are everywhere and there is no way to escape them unless by fixing the whole house. But quarter life crises come to an end, 2025 will hopefully mark its beginning. Good luck 21st century and HAPPY NEW YEAR!
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January 2025
Gilbert Gonzalez honored at Rec Center Christmas event by Nathan Weiser
T
he Red Hook Rec Center was in the spirit of giving last month, hosting their annual holiday bash with food, music and presents for children. It was organized by Isiah Forde of the Center and Andre Richey of New Leader Hoops. The first holiday party hosted by the Rec Center in 2015. There was pizza from Mark’s on Van Brunt Street and a barbecue food from Hometown BBQ Street for everyone to enjoy. In a room next to the front desk and pool table, there were gifts set up for the kids. After getting a ticket, each would get on line and pick out the toy that they wanted.
There was a sorority that came through a connection with New Leader Hoops. The sorority manned a table with Connect Four and Jenga. There was an area in the front of the gym that was decorated in Christmas themes where the kids got to take pictures with Santa. NYC Ferry had a table with information for everyone including discount program for students. The Red Hook Library had a table in the back of the gym where kids got to decorate Christmas ornaments. Forde, who has been at the Red Hook location since 2017, has been doing this event at different locations for 24 years.
In the gym, IKEA sponsored a table full of gifts for kids and adults. There were stuffed animals, Advent calendars with chocolate and vouchers for the IKEA restaurant.
A highlight of the holiday bash was honoring retired Gilbert Gonzalez. He was given a plaque with the Parks Department logo on it and a retired legend sash around his body.
Community Offshore Wind donated 300 coats for children. They found out about the event through Richey of New Leader Hoops.
Forde gave a speech about what Gonzalez meant to him and the youth in the Red Hook community.
Get Give Teach distributed draw string bags with school supplies. They also had bags with gifts.
Gonzalez’s first year working at the Rec Center was back in 1999. He started out as a playground associate and instructed various sports.
“My title has changed,” Gonzalez said. “When I came here, I was doing basketball, baseball and football. I loved doing that. Now, I have transitioned to being a supervisor.” A standout memory during his more than two decades at the Red Hook Rec Center has been coaching flag football. The players that he coached still talk about the trophies they won. “I have three city wide championships with the kids in the flag football league,” Gonzalez said. “They got trophies and everything. It was really nice. It was one of the highlights for me being here being the citywide champion for this recreation center.” He coached flag football from 20002007 and they would practice and play games for four months out of the year. “They love it,” Gonzalez said. “They still to this day remember me and say ‘hey Gil, remember the flag football.’ Now they are grown men. It’s definitely still a big highlight for them.” Gonzalez was born and raised in Red Hook. He thought it was great working at the Rec Center while living five minutes away. Gonzalez oversaw all the programs that happened at the Rec Center and
Gonzalez with his gifts including a retirement sash. (photo by Weiser)
he also continued doing some of the programming himself while being supervisor. He oversaw the billiards tournaments for the seniors for about five years while he was supervisor. He wanted to show the other employees what could be done. “Not to tell you what to do, I am going to show you what to do, so when I am gone you all could take care of it,” Gonzalez said. “I try to pass it on to Tank and Kevin so hopefully it is in good hands.”
The Craft Corner TURN OLD CORKS INTO CUTE FIGURINES! by Marie Hueston and Sage Hueston
Happy New Year! We hope you had a fun holiday with family and friends. We’re ready to kick off 2025 with a new craft idea. Take a few corks from wine or champagne bottles and gather some materials to create a family of figurines. You can choose to make people, animals or rials to get ideas for each figurine. We Glue details into place. Adhere clotheven fantastical creatures. It’s decided on pink fairy wings and blue ing, pom poms, yarn or any other deup to you! Here’s how to begin. yarn hair for one cork, green pom- tails using hot glue. Check to see if pom ears to make a bear with another, and a colorful blue and rainbow outfit with yellow yarn hair for the last one.
What you’ll need. In addition to corks, you’ll need a selection of craft materials like colored paper or felt, yarn, pom poms and ribbon, as well as scissors, a black marker or Sharpie and a hot-glue gun. Plan out your figurines. Play with different combinations of craft mate-
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Cut out your clothing and hair. Place each cork next to your craft materials to get an idea of the scale, then cut your felt, paper or ribbons to create clothing and details. To create hair, cut about 15 to 20 small pieces of yarn, all the same size.
your cork has markings on one side, and if it does, use that side for your details so the markings are covered up.
Add faces. Use a piece of scrap paper to sketch ideas for facial features or expressions before drawing them onto your figurines. Then use a black marker or Sharpie to transfer your designs onto each cork.
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Enjoy your figurine family!
February Preview: Save a few paper plates for a Valentine stencil craft. January 2025, Page 11
I spent Christmas Eve in Sweden and here's what happened! by Oscar Fock
I
n our last issue, I wrote about how we (many of us, at least) celebrate Christmas in Sweden. I went through it all, from Dec. 1 and Swedish Public Service’s advent calendar TV show, through the celebration of St. Lucy and bingo on the night before Christmas Eve, to the sales on Boxing Day. And while these are all key parts of the Swedish Christmas, nothing beats Dec. 24, Christmas Eve. So, dear reader, to really get a feel for how we Swedes celebrate the high point of yuletide, I invite you now to enjoy this deep dive into on my family’s Christmas Eve celebration. Except for two Christmases in 2021 and 2022, every Christmas Eve of my 26-year-old life has been celebrated with my parents in their home, along with my sister and varying constellations of relatives.
We started early
The morning begins with Christmas stockings hanging from the mantel. My
little sister and I, even as adults, have usually decided to stay over the night before, so we can get the big day going early. When we were kids, it was in anticipation of all the gifts that lay under the tree (I did grow up with the privilege of receiving multiple gifts for Christmas, and I’m aware that that’s certainly not the case for everyone, in Sweden or elsewhere); nowadays, it’s a long, relaxed breakfast we’re looking forward to. For meat-eating Swedes, it’s common to eat slices of cured ham/ham covered in a breaded glaze on toast with some mustard. (Getting a good ham for Swedish Christmas is sort of like getting a good turkey for American Thanksgiving: It takes multiple days to prepare and you better buy it early if you want a good specimen.) When breakfast winds down around 9 or 10 am, those of us in the kitchen will start hearing the first tones of “O Holy Night.” Every year — and this is a tradition unique to my family — my dad sings — at least the words he knows
— for my mom, sister and I, the Swedish version of “O Holy Night,” titled “O Helga Natt.” He has quite the voice, being a musician all his life (including many years in an all-mens choir). After breakfast, we make our way to the city’s biggest cemetery. We convene with my maternal aunt and uncle, and together we go to wish a merry Christmas to relatives and close friends who are no longer with us. We usually bring a few candles and flowers to out by the grave stones, as a way to show them they’re still in our thoughts, It has become one of my favorite parts of Christmas Eve: visiting the grave of a passed relative is a very personal experience and we all do it in different ways, but I find it beautiful to watch everyone’s personal way to greet those we are visiting and honoring the moment. After an unceremonious and informal lunch, the real Christmas-y part of the day begins. Because at 3:05 p.m., about 3 million people in Sweden — nearly a third of the population — watch Disney’s From All of Us to All of You on SVT1 (the primary Public Service channel). Known in Sweden as Donald Duck and His Friends Wish You a Merry Christmas, it is the start of Public Service’s Christmas Eve programming (which, every year, is led by a new Swedish celebrity who welcomes viewers by lighting a lone candle). From All of Us to All of You is an animated Christmas special hosted by Jiminy Cricket and Tinker Bell. The show is one long compilation of Disney shorts featuring Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse and Goofy, and clips from classic movies like Cinderella, Robin Hood, Lady and the Tramp and The Jungle Book. (My favorite is the scene shown from Robin Hood, where the cartoon fox is stealing bags of coins from a sleeping Prince John.)
“New Bar & Grill in the Red Hook neighborhood. Me and my wife had the pleasure of dining in for the evening. Atmosphere is super chill. Clean and the music was spot on. The TV had ESPN on, another plus in my book. Food was seasoned well and was fresh and hot. I recommend the calamari A1 and the bacon cheese burger. We will definitely stop by again to try some of their other dishes. Thank you for the hospitality.”
The show has aired every year since 1960 and is one of the most views tv programs of the year. It has not
changed much over the six-and-ahalf decades it has aired; in recent years, however, some clips — in particular “Santa’s Workshop” — have been modified to remove some racist and antisemitic caricatures (though not all, weirdly). My parents no longer watch all of it — they’re usually busy preparing Christmas dinner — but I still do. I have realized that my feelings toward it has changed over the years. When I was young, it obviously was hilarious and I was of prime age to enjoy the Disney classics; then came a time, when I was a teenager, where I was preoccupied with being “cool” and Donald Duck and Disney were decidedly not cool; but, now, as I’ve grown past my “cool” phase, I both find it fun and nostalgic. We eat Christmas dinner after Donald Duck. Potatoes, Swedish meatballs, sausages, pickled herring in odd flavors, salads, bread, Christmas ham, cured salmon, beer and schnapps aplenty, my family and our close relatives usually sit down around 4:30 pm for a couple of hours of dinner. As someone who’s celebrated a traditional American Thanksgiving dinner, I would say the two are reasonably similar in the way the food is served and how people come together. After that, at 7 p.m., it’s time for Sagan om Karl-Bertil Jonssons Julafton (in English: The Tale of Karl-Bertil Jonsson’s Christmas Eve), an animated short film about the teenager Karl Bertil Jonsson who, inspired by Robin Hood, steals packages from the wealthy and give out to the poor people of Stockholm’s slum. If we have finished dinner on time, we usually open as many gifts as we can before Karl-Bertil Jonsson’s Julafton. After the show, we finish up the gifts, eat Christmas candies, maybe drink some glögg (mulled wine) and play board games. Although when I was younger, I’m sure I was too busy playing with my new toys!
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January 2025
A great day at PS 676 by Nathan Weiser
Red Hook's Harbor Middle School held their holiday spectacular showcase the last day before winter break. It began in the auditorium with performances and videos from the school year so far. After that was finished, there were beverages, snacks, holiday crafts and photos. The YMCA after-school program showed their holiday video titled "Mischief at 676, the Red Hook story." Next there was a Taekwondo demonstration. The students did Chon-Ji and then flying sidekicks across the stage. Then a water crafts video presentation with footage of woodworking experiments as well as building the tank.
Tits Up Brooklyn
January 2025 Edition by Medea Hoar
Happy New Year and welcome to the very first 2025 “Tits Up Brooklyn” of the year! I hope you’re as excited to be here as I am! 2024 ended with a bang and 2025 is proving to be just as good, if not better, muse-ically speaking. So let’s wrap up December 2024 together, like you would a gift, with twinkling bows and glitter, as we look to the celebrate the new year. It doesn’t matter what you celebrated in December: Winter Solstice, Hannukah, Krampus Nacht, Kwanzaa, Xmas or Christmas…it’s a wonderful time to reflect and celebrate the past year’s life and loves. In my opinion (which is the only one that matters, ‘cause it’s my column, babydoll) there’s no better way to do this, than with music. The seasonal sounds were in full display December 14th at Katie Curley’s 5th Annual Holiday Spectacular
There was a special presentation by the Green Team. The Green Team’s instructors are from RETI (Resilience Education, Training and Innovation) and the Billion Oyster Project). Next up was a performance from the upper and lower grade dance team. Ms. Shacoya is the instructor of the Harbor dance team and the YMCA dance team. She said that she also teaches the technical part, so she shows how to clip music, how to record the music, how to use garage band and how to do sound effects. After the video presentations and performances were finished in the auditorium, everyone went into the cafeteria for more activities and food. On many tables in the cafeteria there were paper masks that they students spent two months working on. Students chose a culture or holiday at Young Ethel’s with 50% of the proceeds going to City Harvest (www. cityharvest.org). Some of you gentle readers may recall last year’s Holiday Spectacular at Branded Saloon and many of the same local luminaries were in attendance, with some new faces as well. The band was a tinseled and talented bunch including Katie Curley, Brendan Curley, Shu Nakamura (silvery from head to toe), Konrad Meissner and Max Newland, with several guests like Glenn Spivack and Dot Moore. They provided the musical foundation for a plethora of singers, too many to fit into your stocking, like Lizzie Edwards, Sarah Durning, Shanelle Jenkins and Brooklyn’s own Bobby Blue. Bobby Blue’s rendition of Loretta Lynn’s “To Heck With Ole Santa Claus” was a huge hit! For those of you haven’t heard of this lovely ditty before, it’s for those of us who have been slighted by that overfed elf known as St. Nick. The raucous rebels in the audience were all too willing to shout out Bobby’s chorus line of “F**k You Santa Claus” each and every time
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long. The other side is trying to play this as a game-ending tsunami, but it’s not. We lost the round but not the fight. Here’s a quote I read this morning from John Fetterman, Senator from Pennsylvania who went on the record saying democrats should,“Buckle up and pack a lunch, because it’s going to be four years of this.” I have to admit I was extremely optimistic about the election. Having Kamala was great, a human to vote for
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instead of that vile fat slob riding a golf cart. However it turned out, after watching a candidate pretend to give a blow job to a microphone, 20,000 people filed out of the rally shouting “THATS OUR GUY!!!!” R.J.- Haaa…..wait, not. One of the millennials EVER mentioned smoking. Joe Ford- Yeah well. R.J.- In a previous interview it was raised that boomers are “Too old to matter.” What’s your reaction to that.? Joe Ford- I think that being a boomer, a person of this generation, there’s a certain productivity that was expected. There was an America that was on the rise. A lot of things were not told
and pizza from Mark’s on Van Brunt Street.
Pioneer Works was at a table in the cafeteria with a winter themed activity where students made creative snowscapes with fake snow, glitter and a figurine to top their snowscape. The BEAM Center had a table in the cafeteria where students could decorate disco balls. They used a hot glue gun to add tiles to their disco balls. BEAM Center aims to help NYC kids and teens set and achieve ambitious goals. It’s a Brooklyn-based community where artists guide young creators aged six to 18 through programs in technology, imagination and craft. There was a Hanukkah table with many dreidels and sheets of paper where students could color in dreidels with corresponding colors. To eat and drink, there was hot chocolate, ice cream, gingerbread cookies
Student artwork hung in the hallway.
it came around on the guitar. There were also classics for all to sing along to: “I’ll be Home for Christmas” “The Little Drummer Boy” and “It’s Christmas All Over.”
at the bar on this wet and windy Monday night. Man, oh man, am I glad I did! Arcana played a monster ~90’ish minute set full of mostly original music. The space for the band is tight, especially when you have a double bass holding things down. Thank goodness Calvin Bennet kept things movin’ and groovin’ on his slim electric upright for his original “Honey Do”, which he also sang lead on. David Pybas on vocals and guitar, shared “Pancho and Lefty” and provided vocal back up on originals by Glenn Spivack and Calvin Bennet. Glenn Spivack moved seamlessly from reso to autoharp to hobo harp to vocals like he’s been doing all his life (he has). The night closed on a positive “note” with a song of hope titled “Hold On” written & composed by Glenn Spivack, and recently re-arranged by David Pybas. This year you can see Arcana at Cowgirl Seahorse on 2/24/25, just the other side of the Brooklyn Bridge.
This was also night that the lovely hostess with the most-ess, Katie Curley, celebrated the release her brand spankin’ new XMass EP Release of
Arcana (photos by Medea Hoar) “Big Colored Lights” which has already been featured on Americana Highways and No Depression’s Holiday Music guide (katiecurley.bandcamp.com/album/big-colored-lights)
You can catch more musical mischief monthly at Katie’s “Sad Song, Happy Hour” one Friday afternoon a month at Young Ethel’s with the first of the year set for January 10th at 5pm with four solo artists: Katie Curley, Rod Hohl, Joe Maynard and the Sad Bastards of Brooklyn (I didn’t know my ex-lovers formed a band??). Last month, not so long ago, you may remember that I wrote about a fine trio,Arcana, playing the Industry Night Mondays at Sweet Talk in Gowanus on December 16th. I managed to drag my ass, with pen and paper, and settle in
Holiday Spectacular at Young Ethels
COFFEE
theme for the mask and many decided on a Halloween theme.
to us that we had to find out for ourselves. In 1968 when we started seeing the fire hoses and the Pettit Bridge we began to realize how insulated those of us in the white middle class were, and how tough it was for others. So, our cavalier attitude hadn’t been confronted with defeat. Then I started seeing older guys on the block going off to Vietnam and coming back quite changed. I just missed getting drafted but Vietnam affected all of us. The Millennials have never been exposed to the horrors of war so it’s really easy to talk big and get radicalized. Saying stuff like “Well I’m a Libertarian and the government
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With that, I leave you, my lovelies. May the new year bring you all that you desire, may your dreams become reality and with each passing day know that I hold space in my heart for all of you. Till we meet again, I shall remain your wordsmith muse, Medea Hoar. #bkmuses Cowgirl Seahorse, 259 Front Street, NYC (S. Seaport) Sweet Talk, 457 Third Ave., Brooklyn (Gowanus) Young Ethel’s, 506 5th Ave., Brooklyn (S. Slope) Branded Saloon, 603 Vanderbilt Ave, Brooklyn (Prospect Heights)
is spending too much money defending Ukraine. And in the South China Sea, we should reconsider our imperialist tendencies.” I think some of today’s issues can be summed up in the words of the scientist Neil Degrasse Tyson who says: “The problem in this world is that too many people know enough to think they’re right, but not enough to know they’re wrong.” R.J.- Ok…..how’s the coffee here btw? Joe Ford- (taking a sip) A little weak. You can check out JOE FORD’s recording and production work @(SouthBrooklynSound.com/listen)
January 2025, Page 13
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January 2025
Ten years ago in the Star-Revue
More Cartoon
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January 2025, Page 15
BOOK SERIAL:
Fishes, Purple, Tiny... by Bob Racioppo
Last Month W On the way home Zak and Vera stopped at a
hamburger joint in Sunset Park called the White Hut. As they sit down and start talking, a guy Zak knew walked in. He was high and ended up spilling his food all over the place. Vera thought it was funny and they left laughing. The next day was the day before Zak was to start his doorman job. He took his suit to the cleaners and got a haircut. Then he stopped into the clubhouse and got stoned, then left to pick up the suit.
When Zak got to Dave’s, just before five, the suit wasn’t ready, it would be another 15 minutes. He waited in stoned inertia, taking in the details of the shop. First Dave, a thin man, with a thin mustache, one of the only Jews in the neighborhood. He proudly displayed a black and white photo of himself in a US Army uniform. He had a determined stare, holding an M16 rifle. The place was jammed with suits and dresses in plastic bags with different colored tickets attached. There was a stained and tattered steam press which he operated with his foot. A sewing desk with spools of bright thread was near the front window, with a sewing machine also foot-operated. “So you just gonna stand there waiting?” said Dave after about five minutes. “Go get a soda, be ready when you get back.” “Yeah, ok.” Zak went out and stood on the corner, looking down on the bay. What would Vera think of this haircut, all the guys at her school were longhairs, it worried him a bit. And on top of that… he’d lied to her about being in college, would she still go out with a dropout? He couldn’t be sure. Breaking his worrisome thoughts was Dave, with suit in hand stepping out of the store. “Hey kid, I’m closing up, you want your suit?” Zak was still high when he handed the suit to his mother. She took off the plastic and held it up. “Looks good, I shined your black shoes and there’s a white shirt I just ironed in the closet. Pick out a tie and you’re good to go.” “Thanks,” he started for his room. “Wait, Uncle Nicky called with where you gotta go on Monday.” “OK.” He kept moving toward his room.
“Yeah, it’s a few stops past Hunter.” You’ll see it.”
He did and she checked the length.
“Uhhh, okay.”
“OK, we’ll take the legs down three inches… how is the waist?”
She handed the sheet of paper to Zak, who looked at it and went to his room.
T
31 – Monday Monday
he grating sound of the Westclox alarm cut into Zak’s sleep at 7 AM, just as it did during his brief college days. His mother was waiting in the kitchen with scrambled eggs and coffee. He shaved, put on his shirt and tie, and the pressed suit. The previous night, his father tried to cheer him up by saying It’s a great job, in twenty years you’re out with a pension.” Those words haunted him. With the address tucked in his jacket pocket, he took a good luck kiss from his mother and joined the rush house crowd getting sucked into “the living organism of New York City.” The suit and tie felt like a costume, and he was on his way to a masquerade party. If he got the job, it would be a masquerade; his costume would be one of those Sgt. Pepper outfits like the little guy who called him ‘swarthy’ wore. And the “party” would last twenty years. He tried hard to stop thinking but he couldn’t. If that mind #2 voice comes up in his head it would be trouble. On the crowded N train to Pacific Street, he tried to distract himself by looking at the rush hour faces, but they were all tired and dull. Hey, maybe not, maybe they were really happy but didn’t show it. A whisper from #2 was heard, “Yeah sure, keep tellin’ yourself that.” He caught the 4 express and was up at 86th and Lexington faster than he wanted to be. Walking north along the Central Park side of Fifth Avenue, he saw that round building, the Guggenheim. Stood for a minute thinking how different it was from every other building, and how that made it great. 1144 was one block further. A doorman was standing at the ready under the awning. It looked like Ski, and crossing the street he saw that it was Ski in full doorman getup. “Ski!” Zak cried out as he approached. “Hey kid you made it. Listen up – here I’m called Peter, ok?” “Sure, I gotta see Mrs. Wilber, right.”
“C’mere,” and reading off a sheet of paper “You have to go up to 1144 Fifth Avenue and see a Mrs. Wilber, she’s the building manager.”
“Yeah, she’s inside, expecting you.”
“OK”
“No, you don’t go in here.”
“It’s up on 90th Street in the city. You know how to get there?”
“What?”
“Okay, I’ll go in…” He started to walk into 1144 but Ski/Peter grabbed his arm.
“No, you go around the corner.
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Around the corner Zak saw it, a black sign with brass doorbell underneath, reading in white letters SERVANTS ENTRANCE. He rang the bell. After a moment he was buzzed in through the grated metal door. There was a long metal stairway going down. A neatly dressed woman stood at the bottom looking up at him.
“Loose,” “And we’ll take the waist in two inches.” He got down off the stool. “Hat size?” Zak never wore hats so he didn’t know.
“Mr. Wozny?”
“Try this one on… no.” She handed him another.
“Yes.” She waved him down.
“How about this… 7 ½ - perfect.”
There were in the low-ceilinged sub-basement of 1144, with walls of unadorned concrete. She led him to a small office filled with papers and large calendars depicting work schedules. She went behind a desk and motioned him to sit in the chair across from her. Looking down at a pad she said “Zachary Wozny…”
There was a long mirror on one wall, Mrs. Whitney turned him to it saying “What do you think?”
“Yes, that’s me.” “Hi, I’m Joan Wilber, House Manager. I have some information on you from Peter. He speaks highly of you.” “Ok, thanks.” “We value his opinion, but could you tell me a little about yourself?”
He didn’t want to think, didn’t want to look either. “One more thing, let me see your hands, medium, be right back.” He stood and stared at his reflection as his father’s words came back to him. “Twenty years… out with a pension…twenty years, twenty years.” Mrs. Whitney was back with a cellophane wrapped pair of white gloves which she tore open and handed to him.
This was his chance to blow the interview, but he didn’t, gave her a brief, boring description of his life up to this point.
“These should fit.”
While he spoke, she took out a few forms and when he finished speaking handed them to him.
“Gloves?”
“Here, fill these out, I’ll be right back.” Zak took a pen off the desk and did as he was told. Mrs. Whitney returned shortly pushing a luggage cart with several uniform jackets and pants hanging on it, and a few braided caps lying on its base. “What size jacket are you, Mr. Wozny?” “Um, 40, sometimes 42.” “OK.” She pulled a size 40 off the rack. “And your waist measurement?” “32.” “OK, the smallest we have is a 34, but try these on for the length.” There was a small bathroom down the hall where Zak changed into slacks that had red and white stripes down the outside of each leg. Back in the office he tried on the jacket, which had braided epaulets on each shoulder. Mrs. Whitney buttoned and adjusted it. “The size 40 is perfect, you’ve got good shoulders.” She pulled over a step-stool. “Stand on this.”
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“Gloves?” “Oh yes, the last thing.” “Yes.” She gave him a quizzical look. Zak turned back to his reflection and suddenly began chuckling. He turned to the house manager and handed her the gloves. Now laughing, he took off the hat and the jacket, tossing them onto the luggage cart. Mrs. Whitney watched with open mouth as he went down the hall to the little bathroom to get out of the striped uniform pants and into his own. He was in some kind of laughing jag which echoed through the sub-basement of 1144 Fifth Avenue as he retraced his steps out and up the metal staircase. He pulled on the grated door, but it wouldn’t open. Mrs. Whitney had followed him out and stood at the bottom of the stairs scowling. Zak pulled on the door again, turned back to see her. No longer laughing, he yelled. “Let me out!”
Continued Next Month Author Bob Racioppo is a founding member of the Shirts, a New York-based American punk band that was one of the seminal CBGB bands. After signing a record deal they toured the US and Europe. In addition to music, Robert is an accomplished fine artist. This is his first novel. He grew up in Sunset Park and now lives in Windsor Terrace. To order a copy of the full book ($15) text 917 652-9128 with your address.
January 2025
moment in the sun. Perverts and the people who love them. On her debut album, 2022’s Preacher’s Daughter, Ethel Cain seemed to want to indulge in what she was trying to reject. Born and raised in Florida and christened (apparently) as Hayden Silas Anhedönia, Cain actually is the offspring of clergy
Sixth time around. The British funk band Cymande’s fame was momentary 50 years ago or so. They released three notable albums [their self-titled 1972 debut, followed by Second Time Round (1973) and Promised Heights (1974)] with less essential efforts in 1981 and 2015, toured with Al Green and Patti Labelle and headlined at the Apollo before calling it quits. Their grooves were later mined by the likes of De La Soul, EPMD, Fugees, Gang Starr, the KLF, Queen Latifah and the Wu-Tang Clan. More recently, the 2022 documentary Getting It Back: The Story of Cymande, while being a bit overly celebratory, traced their career, influence and reunion. The fruits of that reunion (founding members Patrick Patterson and Steve Scipio, longtime members Adrian Reid and Raymond Simpson plus supporting players) are to be heard on the new Renascence (LP, CD, download available from BMG January 31). The album opens with a groove that would do Hot Chocolate proud, or could work as incidental music on an episode of Baretta—they step back firmly into that ’70s groove. “Chasing an Empty Dream” floats a vocal line of social commentary over thick bass, rich percussion and shining horns, building with smart orchestration. The rest of the album steps back a bit, not in meaning but in meter, with memorable melodies and midtempo messaging. That messaging is, beginning to end, simple, strong and straightforward. Cymande are exceptionally good at being convincing, especially on “Darkest Night,” which asks if progress is possible, or if it has even happened, with neither hope nor doom. That song is followed by “Carry the Word,” which closes the album like a lowkey, Neville Brothers anthem. Will the sixth time be a charm for the London nonet? The grooves are in place and they’re touring the states, with a stop at Irving Plaza in NYC next month. Cymande deserves a second
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When she sang “A life full of whiskey but I always deliver / Jesus, if You’re listening, let me handle my liquor / And Jesus, if You’re there /Why do I feel alone in this room with You?” she might have been trying to separate herself from the pack, but the country pop music and the cheerleader costume in the video suggested a desire to be in with the in crowd. There’s a lot of pain and personal politic in Cain’s songs. She was out as gay by the age of 12 and publicly as a trans woman at 20. She was later diagnosed as autistic. She doesn’t address such issues directly in her songs, but it’s there in her self-portraits of doubt and insecurity. Past songs have addressed Palestine and American gun culture, but she’s at her best when examining her own identity. On Perverts (out Jan. 8 from Daughters of Cain as the follow-up to Preacher’s Daughter, which gets its first vinyl release Jan. 17), Cain seems intent on separating herself not just from the pack but from her former self and aspirations The album starts boldly with a brief hymn (“Nearer, My God to Thee”), sung a cappella with tape warble, which cuts off abruptly, leaving a disquieting hiss with occasional, distorted whispers. It’s like a found cassette that you know you shouldn’t be listening to and wish you could stop. That track goes on for 12 frightful minutes. It’s followed by a sad and beautiful, confessional ballad (“Punish”) with piano accompaniment and disembodied loops of sorrow. A wonderfully slow and eerie video in rich black-and-white with empty hallways and faceless bodies completes the picture. Other songs do lean closer to pop sensibilities, but they’re still slow and moody. Cain wrote, performed and produced all of Perverts and it’s a perfect piece of haunting introspection. It might scare you, but don’t let it scare you off. Queer as (Good) Folksinger. Despite the typecasting of our polarized politics, the southern states aren’t and haven’t always altogether been, a conservative bastion. Comedians such as Nate Bargatze and Cliff Cash remind us of as much, and country music has long had liberal leaning representation. It’s not quite the progressive
front of outlaw cowboys and outspoken women it once was, but Willi Carlisle has been working to right the balance toward the left again. He’s outspoken too, but doesn’t force issues in his songs. He was born the son of a polkaman in Wichita, KS, but he’s no party lineman. He also holds an MFA in poetry from the University of Arkansas, but hell, the late and truly great Kris Kristofferson got his degree in English lit from Oxford. Ain’t no harm in being smart. Carlisle champions abortion rights, gender and sexual fluidity and economic justice, but more than that delivers professional, unpolished Americana; the politics don’t overshadow the purity in the music. (He posted to the platform formerly known as “Twitter” in 2023 that he gets “sick of ‘queer folksinger’ being an advertisement for my work, and would much prefer ‘good folksinger,’ but you know what’s worse? That queer people friends get bullied and denied civil rights. So here we are.”) He has released three albums and a number of singles since 2016 and in December issued a solo session through Anti-Corp’s The Magnolia Sessions. (The album is streaming on most platforms with a limited edition LP benefitting Hurricane Helene relief out Jan. 31.) It’s a brisk set, 11 songs in under 30 minutes, including a particularly lovely rendering of the traditional blues “Careless Love” played on dulcimer. The politics come a bit more to the fore in a stirring banjo take on “Which Side Are You On?” and on “When the Roses Bloom Again,” a Woody Guthrie lyric set to music by Billy Bragg and Wilco for their album Mermaid Avenue Vol. III, performed here on banjo and harmonica. But the highlight is a gentle rendition of the Shaker hymn “Love is Little” played on (I’m gonna guess) concertina like a lullaby for hard times. Carlisle sings in a sincere, unaffected voice against a casual, backyard ambiance replete with crickets. He’s a strong songwriter, but through his Magnolia Session, he shows that he can be a traditionalist as well, despite outside forces trying to dictate just what the traditions might, or should, be. Big grrl energy. Brighton’s Lambrini Girls know how to cause a stir. The English duo-plus-drummer first shook things up in 2022 with their single “Help Me, I’m Gay,” a direct confrontation of the male gaze. Another single followed in the first part of 2024, and then at the end of the year caused another small ruckus with “Big Dick Energy,” an attack striking deeper than
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the gaze. Like their spiritual grandmommies the Slits, they’re forcefully feminine, using allure as a force while exhibiting zero need for men.
It’s plenty fun to upset apple carts, but Lambrini Girls are tight and efficient. Phoebe Lunny yells her way through crisp paragraphs of verses and keeps it catchy, and her guitar attacks are as pointed as the lyrics. Lilly Macieira’s bass is fast and grounded. Only three of the 11 songs on their first fulllength, Who Let the Dogs Out? (CD, LP and download out from City Slang Jan. 10) break the three-minute mark, but they manage smart invention and variation within their fast and fierce constructions. The album flies by in a furious and memorable half hour.
Treasures old and new. The folk metal band Nine Treasures arose from Inner Mongolia in 2010 and in the 15 years since have issued five hard-tofind albums of traditional song forms and strings (balalaika, morin khuur, tovshuur) with blast beats and proggy riffage. A new album is due out in 2025—their first in five years—but for the meantime, they’ve reissued two titles for streaming and download. The 2017 album Wisdom Eyes has been remastered for rerelease, and they’ve rerecorded the 12 tracks from the 2021 compilation Awakening From Dukkha. The latter is a vivid and visceral place to start: sea-faring songs and battle cries played with clean precision and scorching guitars, just in time for the Year of the Snake.
January 2025, Page 17
Quinn on Books It’s the End of the World as We Know It Review of “Portraits in Life and Death,” by Peter Hujar Review by Michael Quinn The end of the year always feels like the end of the world to me. I feel a giddy sense of abandon: to do more, eat more, see more—and inevitably spend more. (Wheee!) January is always a shock. (Whoa.) Somehow, the beginning of the year starts in a place far removed from where December left off. It’s less like stepping off a cliff and more like tracing your finger along the smooth, rounded edge of a paperclip—a loop that brings you back to the start. This cyclical sense of time was on my mind as I pored over Peter Hujar’s deeply compelling black-andwhite photographs in “Portraits in Life and Death.” This gorgeous new edition (hardcover, with lavender end pages) is a reissue of the 1976 original, long out of print, and the only one published during the photographer’s lifetime (1934–1987). Hujar was a contemporary of the perhaps better-known photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. Both were gay men living in downtown New York who photographed many of the same people and who ultimately died of AIDS-related causes. Yet their work is strikingly different. Where Mapplethorpe’s images are edgy and provocative, Hujar’s are moodier, more mysterious. If Mapplethorpe’s focus was sex, Hujar’s was relationships—but both are rooted in intensity. In the foreword to the new edition, the writer Benjamin Moser includes a selfportrait of Hujar leaping into the air in his loft apartment, saluting the camera. Hujar’s taut body and focused expression contrast with the playfulness of the pose, a tension of opposites the book is very much concerned with.
What the living do
The first two-thirds of “Portraits” showcase artists who prioritized personal expression over material success. For them, art was a calling, not only a career. (“A constellation of offbeat, penniless artists like the ones he gathered in this book feels sadly impossible today,” Moser laments.)
If you happen to be in New York City, don’t leave without stopping in Red Hook to see one of the best sculpture gardens, art galleries and blacksmithing studios in the world. You may see the blacksmith at work as well as some of his more than 60 metal sculptures, including a 22 foot dinosaur. Most of the sculptures are not for sale. Free refreshments wll be provided. Thank you, Tony Cuonzo
Sculpture Garden and Gallery
Blacksmithing and Antique Gates
Hujar’s subjects emit a kind of utilitarian glamor. They are dressed in the clothes of the working class (button-ups, t-shirts) or nude: bare-breasted and bare-chested—both sexes have hairy armpits. They are often lying down, sometimes on the floor, sometimes on a rumpled bed or couch pushed against a cracked plaster wall, or emerging from an inky black nighttime darkness as if they just rolled over in bed to tell you about a dream they had.
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Brief biographies at the back of the book provide context, but the portraits reveal who these people really are. Poet Edwin Denby sits with eyes closed, his sagging neck echoing the folds of his shirt’s lapels. Writer Susan Sontag, who penned the original book’s introduction from her hospital bed, reclines on the floor with arms folded behind her head, gazing coolly into the distance. Fran Lebowitz, cigarette in hand, sits hunched with a bemused expression so characteristic of the notoriously cranky writer.
Death becomes her
With a turn of the page, we are in another country in another century. Hujar now takes us to Palermo, Italy, where, in 1963, he photographed 19th-century mummified bodies in the catacombs. The personalities of these adorned skeletons have somehow been preserved along with the remnants of their physical bodies. Worry still etches the face of a little girl, her tiny hands emerging from huge embroidered bell-shaped sleeves as if to clasp themselves. A woman, her neck looped with a decomposing wreath of flowers that resembles a boa, seems to have turned her head to look at us pensively through her glass-sided coffin. A man’s O-shaped mouth feels like an expression of joy. Hujar’s portraits possess piercing clarity—not just in their technical beauty but in their emotional depth. His connection to his subjects is palpable, and through his lens, we connect with them too. In their expressions, we sometimes find isolation and loneliness that echo our own. Yet, there’s also selfassuredness and glints of humor in their eyes—or the spaces where those eyes once were. Decades after its original release, many of Hujar’s living subjects have, like him, crossed over to whatever’s next for the rest of us. His poignant dedication still applies—“I dedicate this book to everyone in it.”—and erases the categories (life, death) themselves. At its heart, “Portraits in Life and Death” is both a search for and a celebration of meaning. Let its singular vision inspire you to squeeze whatever good you can out of whatever 2025 has in store.
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January 2025
Jazz by Grella
Being Here, Now
A
By George Grella
few miracles tossed in, would make him a Saint. The obits and eulogies are all about his character, personal history (which includes the kind of social and physical bravery that our political and corporate rulers run from) and political misfortunes. On the one hand, he had to give up his peanut farm when he took office, a quaint notion seen from our era of open corruption, and on the other he was undermined by treasonous subterfuge from Ronald Reagan and the Republican Party. Against that anti-patriotism, he did one of the most American things ever from a President, hosting a White House Jazz Festival in 1978.
s a critic, I’m wary of addressing issues of taste. Taste is personal, it’s what we like and what we don’t— I love how in Italian you say you like something with “mi piace,” which means “it pleases me”—and there’s very little taste-wise that is truly bad. Bad taste, done with affection, is kitsch, which is a good thing. Criticism is about seeing something for what it is, what it says, and examining it on its own terms while also seeing how it fits into social, historical, aesthetic, ethical, and moral contexts. A good critic can take something that works on its own terms and express that, even if they don’t personally like it. Writing critically about jazz starts with taste. For whatever personal reasons, when I first heard jazz I heard something that was absolutely joyous, beautiful, and exciting to me. The rhythmic concepts, the spontaneity of improvisation, the close listening and quick thinking inside an ensemble, these are the most delicious flavors to me. The critical side of me looks at my reactions and tries to understand and articulate what they mean. Going over all that would make for several books. Cutting to the chase, and getting to the subject, means saying that what jazz means to me is the cultural greatness of America, and it is jazz and its American-ness that make me a citizen. And seeing jazz as the unique form it is, and how it came to be, means seeing how America itself came to be, not just culturally but politically, economically, and socially. Caring about jazz, and the blues that is its foundation, means knowing that Black Americans— brought here enslaved—have been fundamental to making this country what it is, despite this country doing everything it can to keep them from full rights of citizenship. Jazz is part of the immense cultural power this country had in the 20th century. After World War II, American popular culture was a dominant force across the globe, and jazz is something that people all over the world loved about America, even as they were repulsed by our militarism, racism, and economic exploitation. More than any other factor it was culture that won the Cold War—it wasn’t the defense budget that brought down the Berlin Wall and disintegrated the Soviet Union, it was the desire people under totalitarianism had to wear Levis, dance to Michael Jackson, and drink Coke—and jazz was consequential in that, with the State Department (and
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Jimmy Carter, Dizzy Gillespie, Max Roach at the White House Jazz ZFestival, June 18, 1978
yes, the CIA) sending out the likes of Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie on tours to show the world what was possible in America. Possible, yes, actual, rarely. The idea that America wasn’t truly a democracy until the passage of the Civil Rights Act is indisputable. Sixty years later, we are at the edge, if not past it, of an oligarchical Neo-feudalism. Without a grand strategic conflict focussing politician’s priorities, cowardly reactionaries have run amuck, anarchists in all but name delivering favors to their rich patrons and grievances to the resentment addicts who make up a substantial portion of the public. The richest man in the world, an immigrant to this country, a vampire surrounded by eager Renfields, unsatisfied with his wealth, the leader of a party of puffed up, polished, self-regarding, mean-spirited amoralists and ignoramuses and the de facto next President, has decided to slather his dullness over everything. It’s not enough that he’s made his fortune off of taxpayers money—we’ve made him rich, folks!—now he needs to tell us what American culture is and who is an American and who isn’t. And not just us! Shortly before the New Year, the German newspaper
Welt am Sonntag published an editorial from him—civic-minded of them to give space to the kind of voices the public doesn’t hear from enough— in which he called the fascist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party the “last spark of hope” for that country, and that the party would create cultural integrity for Germany. In no way can I imagine that he’s thinking about Beethoven and Goethe. When he’s talking about the cultural integrity, he means preserving the political, social, and economic power of one specific racial and language group and keeping it away from people who have different skin colors and languages. That’s not culture—it’s barely monoculture—it’s apartheid. There are clearly many, many people who fervently desire this monoculture, and their passionate intensity in the context of this nation means that they absolutely hate America and everything it is. Monoculture is a not a matter of criticism, but a matter of taste, since it has only one flavor, and it is bland, dry, dull, and ultimately choking, like unseasoned chicken. The same last weekend of 2024, we lost Jimmy Carter. Carter was a good man who did the kind of good works that, in another denomination and with a
"He had to give up his peanut farm when he took office, a quaint notion seen from our era of open corruption." www.star-revue.com
Carter was a huge fan of American music of all kinds (as was Rosalyn Carter, who got the Library of Congress to expand their audio collection to include blues, gospel, and soul) because his America wasn’t the abstract worship of Revolutionary War political philosopher and the almighty dollar, but Americans themselves, how they lived and what they liked. What Carter liked and had taxpayers support (and good for him!) was Eubie Blake, Dexter Gordon, Ornette Coleman, Cecil Taylor, and other titans. Charles Mingus, at the end of his life and unable to play, was honored, and there is a deeply moving and beautiful photo of Jimmy and Rosalyn comforting Mingus, who was overcome with emotion. Two of the most important men in American history together in respect for each other and love for the possible is something that has been vanishingly rare, because it means looking beyond oneself. We have the artists who can do this, but it’s hard to see the politicians who can. We do not have the politicians equal to our artists. Not being able to see past one’s own skin, to know that there are more kinds of people than you and more stories than yours, is a fundamental intellectual failure. It’s worse than stupid, it’s effortful ignorance. The monoculture they want is solipsistic, inbred, and decadent like the House of Habsburg. It isn’t in bad taste, it is tasteless, without flavor or color. It is anti-jazz, and so it is antiAmerican. America is full of colors and flavors, that’s a strength. That strength won the Cold War, and jazz is part of that. In the most ruthless power calculation, monoculture is weakness, and what our oligarchs want makes this country weak. Jazz is our strength, it’s part of 100 years of cultural greatness. Be American, live colorfully, listen to jazz.
January 2025, Page 19
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