An argument over bike lanes and safety between Brooklyn Councilman Antonio Reynoso and Community Board 1 escalated on Wednesday at a City Council Transportation Committee hearing. The community board had ultimately decided against a proposed Metropolitan Avenue bike lane, and Mr. Reynoso told Transportation Department officials that the lane should be implemented no matter what the community board decides, claiming that the board does not fairly represent its neighborhood. Mr. Reynoso said that the board was valuing parking more than safety, stating, “In cases where the evidence shows that [DOT planners are] gonna absolutely improve safety, we shouldn’t be asking for anyone’s opinion.” (Gothamist)
The Civilian Complaint Review Board, which is responsible for affairs involving police misconduct in New York City, concluded after an investigation that the plainclothes police officer who tackled and arrested tennis star James Blake in Times Square last month exercised excessive force. The officer, James Frascatore, mistook Mr. Blake for a suspect in a credit card fraud case. A letter announcing the board’s completion of their investigation was sent to Mr. Blake’s lawyer on Tuesday. The board recommended that Mr. Frascatore’s punishment include charges that could have him suspended or dismissed from the force. (The New York Times)
Police in Brooklyn discovered an interesting hiding place for marijuana Wednesday night when they stopped an eastbound 2009 Nissan Maxima in Prospect Lefferts Gardens on Maple Street. After the driver of the car, which had a covered license plate and tinted windows, pulled over, officers approached the vehicle and smelled marijuana. Shortly thereafter they discovered that the weed was being stored in an open Pringles can. After the four passengers Jiliani Mitchell, 22; Ron Thomas, 34; Revor Williams, 25 and Terril Bishop, 25, were arrested, the car was taken to the 71st Precinct, where a K9 officer, Timoshenko, inspected the car. The dog immediately ripped off a loose armrest and found inside the driver’s side door panel two handguns, one of which had been stolen in Haverstraw, New York. Both weapons had high capacity magazines. (NBC New York)
Public transportation users can now send the MTA video footage when they file complaints. The online feature comes after the tool allowing users to send in photographs documenting problems became popular in 2013. Common public transportation problems include bad bus drivers, sexual misconduct, equipment that isn’t functioning properly and the illegal practice of selling swipes. MTA spokesman man Kevin Ortiz said, “It’s part of what we’re doing to make it easier for our customers to let us know what’s going on.” (amNew York)
After a nearly 12-hour installation that took place beginning at 4:30 AM Monday, a 1966 Batmobile is sitting in the lobby at the New York Historical Society, ready to be presented when the “Superheroes in Gotham” exhibition opens Friday. Among other rare items on display at the exhibition are the original Spider-Man drawings, an early Superman cartoon from 1941 and a 1966 Catwoman costume. The museum had to take down part of its facade for the Batmobile to be installed—it will be on display until the exhibition ends in February. The exhibition focuses on iconic superheroes in New York City. (DNAinfo)
