IKEA celebrates Midsummer, as well as 15 years in the neighorhood

by Brian Abate

Red Hook's IKEA held a midsummer celebration on June 23. It’s a Swedish tradition that brings family and friends together. In Red Hook, the celebration included a buffet with a special menu for the evening, as well as live music. IKEA is also celebrating its 15th year in Red Hook this June.

One woman at the celebration said “I love the salmon and of course, the meatballs are great, especially with jam. The veggie ones are my go-to. The cinnamon buns are also really good.”

I ended up getting the classic Swedish meatballs with mashed potatoes and peas. Everything was excellent, and the meatballs and jam were a really good combination.

The woman also said, “I moved to New York about a year ago and it was always a dream of mine to move here.

I love the hustle and bustle of it but I always love that Red Hook has a bit of a small-town feel to it and everyone has been really welcoming. I’m enjoying my time here in Red Hook and my time here at IKEA too.”

by Brian Abate

“Every now and then my uncle likes to experiment with dishes,” Flores said. Every food that you see here, and you’ve never seen before is his creation. He’s been a cook for as long as I can remember since I was a little kid.”

Flores mentioned his favorite food, saying “The bandeja paisa, which is steak, eggs, beans, chorizo, pork, rice, sweet plantains, and arepas, is amazing. You’ve got to be really hungry though because it's really a lot of food.”

Finding the right location for the restaurant was very important for the Flores family.

“Red Hook holds a special place for us,” Flores said. “We’re Salvadoran and when my family first arrived in the country, they landed here in Red Hook, originally on West 9th St. We love Red Hook and we wanted a place as close as possible to it. Once we realized this place was available, we knew we wanted it.”

One of the challenges so far for Flores is handling

Domestic Workers celebrated

by Nathan Weiser

The Care Forward initiative hosted its first annual awards dinner on June 26 where it honored domestic workers and community allies in the movement for worker justice.

We Rise, which is a domestic worker organizing and empowerment organization founded Care Forward. The pilot site is in the Carroll Gardens and Park Slope area. The Carroll Gardens Association is a member of We Rise.

They honored the critical care and labor of domestic workers and the businesses, elected officials, faith leaders and community based organizations who are committed to transforming the care economy and fighting for worker justice in District 39.

Councilmember Hanif and Assemblywoman Simon were the two politicians at the event. The commissioner of the Dept. of Consumer and Worker Protection, Vilda Vera Mayuga, was also at both the flow of business.

“It feels like we’re either really busy, or it’s kind of dead,” Flores said. “There’s no in-between. One thing is we have going for us is that we've developed some regular customers we can rely on, and then they tell other people about it, and word gets around.”

“One guy in particular, Ray, always comes in, and I remember him because I really like his energy. He always gets the empanadas and compliments them, and asks me about the business. I really appreciate that.”

Flores also spoke about some of his favorite parts of the job, saying “I know this might sound boring to a lot of people, but when we have rushes and a lot of people are coming in and trying the food, it makes me really happy. That and just hearing people praise the cooking makes me really happy.”

Los Hermanos Cafe

142 W 9th Street (347) 599-0428 the event which took place at JJ Bryne Park at the Old Stone House. Hanif was the first to receive an award. She has been involved with Care Forward since she was a staffer under her predecessor, Brad Lander.

“We are doing something that has never been done before for standards to ensure that there is pay equity and that workers know what their existing rights are and the NYC law,” she said. “It is setting a precedent around ensuring the safety and dignity of care workers here within the 39th district.”

For a long time, the care industry sector has been informal where protections in the workplace were not often recognized. “Domestic workers have been fighting for pay equity, paid time off, overtime and other protections like when they face discrimination or harassment,” Hanif said. “This is a model where the employers are at the table too, so that conversation led by Carroll Gardens Association and our community partners really ensures accountability and transparency.”

Assemblywoman Simon was next. “I am very excited to be here and be supportive as always of care workers,” she said. “You heard before that domestic workers have not been included in many of the civil rights protections,” Simon said. “As a civil rights lawyer, that is something that I have been fighting for for a long time. I am honored that you guys came together.”

Simon added that she is looking forward to increasing the people involved in Care Forward and staying involved in the future.

Another award honoree was Susan Fox from Park Slope Parents. Park Slope Parents provides guidance and best practices for employers looking to hire nannies and house cleaners.

Cheri Kroon from Old First Reformed Church in Park Slope was honored. They have a history of committing to racial and social justice.

Norman Cohen, who is the president of Kane Street Synagogue, was also recognized with an award. The synagogue recently celebrated its 167th anniversary.

The next Care Hero award went to the children’s librarians at the Park Slope Library. The Carroll Gardens Library also received a Care Hero award. The library has a story time program and provides a space for care workers.

“It gives me great honor for our staff to provide a safe space for care workers in the neighborhood,” librarian John Leighton said. “I want to thank CGA for putting together this event. It’s the greatest community partner I have ever worked with.”