Brooklyn’s biggest stories this week: a Brooklyn councilmember thrown to the ground by NYPD at a Bed-Stuy eviction protest, the NYPD disbanding an entire narcotics unit after last week’s viral Cobble Hill beating video, the Brooklyn Half Marathon returning Sunday with road closures across half the borough, the Coney Island Mermaid Parade rescued from a funding shortfall, a long-awaited 3K and Pre-K center finally opening in Boerum Hill this fall, the 2026-27 public school calendar dropping, more than 1,000 new apartments coming to Greenpoint Landing, the new Brooklyn jail topping out in Boerum Hill, the Cyclones notching their first home win of the season, and Dinosaur Bar-B-Que announcing it’ll close its Gowanus outpost after 15 years.
Coming Up
Brooklyn Half Marathon Sunday — Expect Closures in Half the Borough
The Brooklyn Experience Half Marathon, run by NYCRUNS, takes place Sunday, April 26, with the course running from McCarren Park to Prospect Park. Street closures and parking restrictions will affect Greenpoint, Williamsburg, DUMBO, Brooklyn Heights, Downtown Brooklyn, and Boerum Hill. Council Member Lincoln Restler’s office, citing significant congestion challenges last year, is asking residents to avoid driving if possible. Course map and full road closure details here.
Mermaid Parade Is Saved — Coney Island’s Wildest Tradition Will Return
After weeks of uncertainty, Coney Island USA confirmed this week that the 44th annual Mermaid Parade will march down Surf Avenue on Saturday, June 20. The beloved parade was nearly derailed by a funding shortfall, following a costly fight against a casino development proposal. It was rescued by a combination of Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso’s discretionary funding and a community GoFundMe that raised $40,000. Artistic Director Adam Rinn said additional sponsor announcements are imminent. The procession kicks off at 1pm at West 21st Street and Surf Avenue. Watching is free. See our full 2026 festivals guide for details.
Schools
Long-Awaited Public 3K and Pre-K Center Finally Opening in Boerum Hill
After three years of sitting vacant, the Little Brooklyn Pre-K Center at 274 Atlantic Avenue will officially open this September, bringing 63 new early childhood seats to District 15. Mayor Mamdani, the Schools Chancellor, and Council Member Lincoln Restler announced the opening at a press conference Tuesday. Read our full coverage here.
2026-27 Public School Calendar Released
The Department of Education has released next year’s calendar — key dates and breaks here.
Real Estate & Development
1,000+ New Apartments Coming to Greenpoint Landing
Plans were unveiled this week for three new mixed-income residential towers at the 22-acre Greenpoint Landing waterfront development, bringing more than 1,000 apartments — 300 of them affordable — to 21 Freeman Street, 37 Freeman Street, and 209 West Street. Construction is set to begin in summer 2026. The project will also add over 20,000 square feet of retail along West, Freeman, and Eagle streets, plus a waterfront park adjacent to the Greenpoint ferry stop. To date, Greenpoint Landing has delivered 3,000 apartments and several acres of public space.
Brooklyn’s New Borough-Based Jail Tops Out in Boerum Hill
The final piece of structural steel was placed atop the new Brooklyn Borough-Based Jail at 275 Atlantic Avenue on Wednesday — a 15-story, 295-foot-tall facility that will replace Rikers Island for Brooklyn detainees. The $2.96 billion, 1,040-bed building includes more than 30,000 square feet of community space and is being built by Tutor Perini/HOK, with substantial completion expected in spring 2029. DOC Commissioner Stanley Richards, the first formerly incarcerated person to lead the agency, spoke at the topping-out ceremony. Council Member Lincoln Restler, whose district includes the site, has raised concerns that the borough-based facility cannot house all current Brooklyn detainees on Rikers — a challenge as the city approaches its legally-mandated August 2027 Rikers closure deadline.
Two Brooklyn neighborhoods in the top 10 NYC most expensive neighborhoods in Q1 2026
According to PropertyShark’s newly released Q1 2026 report on New York City’s 50 most expensive neighborhoods, Carroll Gardens and DUMBO are ranking within the top 10! Find out more here.
Eats
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que to Close Gowanus After 15 Years
The smoked-brisket institution at 604 Union Street announced this week that it will close later this spring, after its lease ends and the building — a former tool-and-die shop converted to a barbecue destination in 2011 — is slated for demolition to make way for a new apartment development. Dinosaur arrived in Gowanus early in the neighborhood’s transformation, and its closing has hit locals hard, with social media reaction running from grief to outright anger about a familiar pattern: a beloved business priced out of the neighborhood it helped put on the map. The chain, which began as a traveling concession stand for bikers in 1983, has shrunk in recent years from 10 locations to five — Harlem, Syracuse, Rochester, Troy, and Buffalo will remain after the Brooklyn outpost shutters. A final service date hasn’t been announced; gift cards will be honored through the last day and at remaining locations afterward.
Police Blotter
Council Member Chi Ossé Arrested at Bed-Stuy Eviction Protest
Bedford-Stuyvesant Council Member Chi Ossé was arrested Wednesday morning while protesting an eviction at a Jefferson Avenue brownstone, in a confrontation that drew national attention after a video showed NYPD officers bringing him to the ground. Ossé and three others were taken into custody as the city sheriff’s office and marshals attempted to enforce the eviction at the home of Carmella Charrington, whose family says they have owned the property for decades. Ossé called the arrest “very violent, fast, traumatic” and was taken to a hospital after the incident. Charrington and her supporters allege the eviction is the result of deed theft. The current titleholder, 227 Group LLC, disputes that framing, citing a 2024 all-cash purchase from family members of the property’s owner — a transaction the company says was legally authorized through a Georgia probate court — along with rulings in its favor in Kings County Housing Court and Supreme Court. Mayor Mamdani, who campaigned on fighting deed theft, said Wednesday he would “follow up” on both the nature of the arrest and the underlying dispute.
NYPD Disbands Brooklyn North Narcotics Unit After Cobble Hill Beating
Following last week’s viral video of NYPD detectives violently beating home health aide Timothy Brown inside BK Wine Depot on Hoyt and Baltic Streets, the NYPD disbanded the Brooklyn North narcotics unit and launched a 90-day review of its narcotics operations citywide. Two officers remain on modified duty; Internal Affairs is investigating. Brown, who was mistakenly identified as a drug suspect because he was wearing green shorts matching a description, had charges dropped by Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez the following day. None of the officers involved were wearing body cameras. Mayor Mamdani called the video “extremely disturbing and unacceptable.”
Sports
After a slow start to the home stretch — the Cyclones came into Wednesday on a three-game skid, including back-to-back walk-off losses to Hudson Valley — Brooklyn finally broke through at Maimonides Park, taking down the Renegades 9–8 on Wednesday night. Shortstop Mitch Voit’s go-ahead three-run shot powered the comeback, and Daiverson Gutiérrez had a four-hit night. Ronald Hernandez, who’s been one of Brooklyn’s hottest hitters all month, kept it going with another double. Up next: a six-game series against the Frederick Keys starting Tuesday, April 28 — the newest team in the South Atlantic League making their first-ever trip to Coney Island. Tickets and schedule.
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