By Chloë Ashby 9/21/12 4:42pm

Sodom by the Sea

The Thunderbolt in 1995.

Hold the Applause: Coney Island Calls for Entertainment Encore on Old Thunderbolt Site

Called “the People’s Playground,” Coney Island is perhaps the most popular piece of New York City’s entertainment puzzle, Times Square and the Bowery having been thoroughly scrubbed of any excitement the past few decades. Chic and refined it’s not—at least not yet—but in terms of crowds, ice cream cones, corn dogs and cheap(ish) amusements, this corner of the city is the one calling.

The season may be over, but the enthusiams persists.

Today, the city’s Economic Development Corporation announced an RFP seeking the development and operation of new amusement rides, game booths and other entertainment attractions at a vacant site at the heart of the Coney’s amusement hub. Read More

By Azi Paybarah 1/04/10 6:42pm

Choosing the Finance Chair

Two City Council members told me that Michael Bloomberg is getting directly involved committee-chairmanship assignments, and making personal appeals pushing Domenic Recchia as finance chair. It could mean that the mayor is concerned that the Council he’ll be negotiating with for the next four years won’t be as friendly as the previous one.

Recchia Read More

By Azi Paybarah 11/20/09 7:51pm

Angling for Finance Chair: Fidler, Recchia and Felder

Last week, Crain’s put out the names of two people from Brooklyn vying for the Finance Committee Chairmanship: Lew Fidler and Domenic Recchia.

There’s apparently another name to add to the mix: Simcha Felder, who I’m told has sent word to the speaker that he’s interested in the position.

The current Finance chairman is David Read More

By Azi Paybarah 9/17/09 8:15pm

Council Members on Term-Limits Fallout, Supporting Thompson

I ran around the City Council chambers chatting with members about the primary elections on Tuesday, the impact term limits may have had, and the upcoming mayor’s race. Here’s are some quick highlights:

Oliver Koppell, said, “I got 64 percent. Last time I got 76 percent. I think the difference was largely term limits. But Read More

By Eliot Brown 9/15/09 10:14pm

Did Rock Center Wreck Ya? Call Recchia!

Domenic Recchia—the colorful councilman who speaks pure South Brooklynese—is headed to court this week to take on Jerry Speyer and his Tishman Speyer, titanic landlord of such trophies as Rockefeller Center and the Chrysler Building.

Sort of.

In addition to his day job representing the people of Gravesend and Bensonhurst, the aptly named Mr. Recchia, Read More

By Bonnie Kavoussi 7/29/09 10:56pm

Details on the Coney Vote! City-Sitt Negotiations Continue; Four New Hotels Possible; $137 M. in Infrastructure

The City Council approved the Bloomberg administration-backed rezoning of Coney Island on Wednesday afternoon in a 44-2-1 vote. While the city is still negotiating with the rezoned area’s main private landlord—Thor Equities’ Joe Sitt—the two long-opposed parties may be close to reaching a final deal.

The rezoning plan would turn vacant lots currently Read More

By Eliot Brown 7/21/09 8:05pm

Bloomberg’s Coney Plan Passes Council Committee

The Bloomberg administration is nearing the finish line in its attempt to push a planned revitalization of Coney Island through the City Council, as a key subcommittee and local Councilman Domenic Recchia voted in favor of the plan Tuesday.

Still, there are a few loose ends that could threaten its passage before the Read More

By Eliot Brown and Bonnie Kavoussi 7/21/09 7:32pm

Bloomberg’s Coney Plan Passes Hurdle

The Bloomberg administration is nearing the finish line in its attempt to push a planned revitalization of Coney Island through the City Council, as a key subcommittee and local Councilman Domenic Recchia voted in favor of the plan Tuesday.

Still, there are a few loose ends that could threaten its passage before the full Read More