Construction forces Brooklyn Bridge closures

  Eyewitness NewsNEW YORK (WABC) -- All Manhattan-bound lanes on the Brooklyn Bridge will be closed for the next two weekends.

The closures are part of the New York City Department of Transportation's project to rehabilitate the bridge ramps and approaches.

Full closure of the Manhattan-bound lanes will take place between 11:59 p.m. Friday, October 5 and 6 a.m. Monday, October 8, and between 11:59 p.m. Friday, October 12 and 6 a.m. Monday, October 15.

During these two 54-hour closures, all Manhattan-bound traffic will be redirected to alternate crossings, including the Manhattan Bridge, Williamsburg Bridge and the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel,

Brooklyn-bound access to the bridge will be maintained via ramps from Pearl Street & Center Street onto the contra-flow lanes.

There will be additional Brooklyn-bound access to the bridge via the Park Row ramp from Frankfort Street on both weekends.

To accommodate detoured traffic, additional lanes will be available for Manhattan-bound motorists on the Manhattan Bridge.

Motorists are urged to avoid the area and use alternate routes.

Traffic is especially heavy on the Manhattan Bridge heading into Manhattan, so motorists are advised to consider using the other East River crossings like the Williamsburg Bridge, the Ed Koch Bridge (59th Street Bridge), and the Battery Tunnel.

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Suspect caught on tape in Brooklyn stabbing

  Eyewitness NewsNEW YORK (WABC) -- The NYPD is hoping surveillance video will lead to the arrest of a man wanted in a stabbing in Brooklyn.

Police released video of an assault that happened at about 9 p.m. Wednesday along Ditmas Avenue in the Kensington section.

Investigators say the suspect got into an argument and stabbed a 45-year-old man twice before running away.

The suspect is described as being about 40 years old, 5-foot-6 and weighing about 170 pounds.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS (8477).

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Opening night for Barclays Center in Brooklyn

  Eyewitness NewsNEW YORK (WABC) -- After years of planning, construction and protests, it is finally opening night for the new Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Brooklyn's own Jay-Z will christen the new entertainment center with eight sold-out concerts.

"This is a great thing for New York City, and that's what the whole thing was about," he said. But not everyone is happy about the new venue. Many who opposed the arena have made their peace with it, but not everyone.

They are fuming, especially those who were forced from their homes to make way for the arena. Others are worried about the traffic congestion and parking nightmare that they say will come with games and events.

"Yes, we may need a sports team in Brooklyn," one man said. "There were other places it could have been developed without causing the harm that it has caused."

City Councilman Jumaane Williams was against the arena. Now, he says it's time for the developer to deliver on his promises to the borough.

"I think we have to do our best to figure out what's best for Brooklyn now and really focus on the community benefits agreement," he said. "Make sure those affordable housing units come. Make sure those union jobs come. We should really focus our energy on making that happen."

The arena is stunning and will offer thousands of tickets at low prices. And though the Barclays has its own 40/40 Club and much more, neighborhood businesses look to benefit.

With parking so limited, officials encourage people traveling to the arena to take one of the nine subway lines, 11 bus routes or the Long Island Rail Road that all lead to the area.

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Get more information on the center and how to get there at www.barclayscenter.com. CLICK HERE TO SEE PHOTOS OF THE BARCLAYS CENTER BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER CONSTRUCTION.

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Group looks to revitalize historic Brooklyn theater

NEW YORK (WABC) -- A rundown theater in Brooklyn that was at the heart of the city's civil rights movement in the 1980s is now the focus of an aggressive fund-raising campaign.

The New Brooklyn Theater Group envisions a performing arts center that will revitalize the neighborhood.

The Slave Theater on Fulton Street in Bedford-Stuyvesant has a long a storied history. But for more than a decade, it has fallen into disrepair. Now, some determined visionaries want to create a new future while honoring its past.

Beyond the Slave Theater's tattered marquee and crumbling exterior is a rich history. It was built as the regent theater in 1910. Then, Judge John Phillips bought it in the 70s and converted it into a place to celebrate black history.

In the 80s, the Reverend Al Sharpton held weekly meetings there and organized marches in the wake of the Howard Beach attack.

Now, the New Brooklyn Theater Group wants to buy the building, renovate it and turn it into a performing arts center.

"There are audiences here," the theater group's Jonathan Solari said. "There are members of this community that want a place to gather, a cultural center here in Bed-Stuy. Because if you walk down the street at night, you hear jazz music. You see people rehearing. It's alive here, but there's not a place to showcase it."

The plan calls for a newly-renovated three-stage theater. The lobby would be converted into a cafe and art gallery. But the issue is money. The estate of the late judge is willing to entertain offers to sell, so the New Brooklyn Theater has opened a kickstarter campaign.

"Two hundred thousand dollars is our kickstarter goal," the group's Sarah Wolff said. "But we have been receiving phone calls from other people who are interested in partnering with us. They're very interested in our project and potentially seeing how we can all work together to bring this building back to life."

Local residents like the idea.

"It'd give the young people a place to go," Mary Green said. "And it also might give the young people an opportunity to show their talent."

The New Brooklyn Theater Group is meeting with Community Board 3 to go over their plans and try and garner more support for the project.

For more information, visit NewBrooklynTheater.com.

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1 dead, 4 hurt in Brooklyn building collapse

  Eyewitness NewsNEW YORK (WABC) -- One worker was killed and another seriously injured in a building collapse in Brooklyn Monday morning.

Three other workers suffered minor injuries.

The collapse happened at 227 Carlton Avenue, a four-story building, in the Fort Greene section around 9 a.m. The building appeared to be under construction, and officials say I-beams gave way.

Two workers were trapped in the basement and had to be rescued. One was removed in cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead at the hospital. The other worker suffered a shoulder injury and was listed in serious condition with non-life threatening injuries.

They were among five men working on top floor when it collapsed underneath them. The two fell about 30 feet into the basement.

Authorities say that all the workers are accounted for.

The New York City Department of Buildings is investigating whether improper methods led to the collapse. The company, Professional Grade Construction, received permits for the work in February. Officials say there have been no complains, violations or citations since construction began.

CLICK HERE to see images from the scene.

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Battle brewing over brunch law in Brooklyn

  Eyewitness NewsNEW YORK (WABC) -- There is a brunch battle underway in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, where sidewalk cafes have been getting hit with summonses for setting up tables too early on Sundays.

The law prohibiting tables on the sidewalk before noon on Sundays has been in place city-wide since the 1970s, but it has rarely been enforced. In fact, cafe owners didn't even know they were breaking the law until Community Board 1 asked the city to crack down.

On any given Sunday, Greenpoint restaurants are bustling with the brunch crowd. Several weeks ago, hot spots like Five Leaves and Lokal were surprised to receive summonses saying that they were breaking the law by having tables out before noon. Ever since then, they have limited their brunch.

"Of course it is hurting our business, because we have 14 tables outside and we can't use them," Lokal manager Serkan Uzel said. "Brunch is very important, especially for this restaurant. It's a very important time."

The community board spearheaded the crackdown, citing complaints from churchgoers about crowded sidewalks. But New York City Councilman Steve Levin says he is unaware of any issues.

"I have reached out to a number of religious leaders, and they told me, basically, we want people to eat when they're hungry," he said.

In fact, pushing the time back to noon for brunch may have resulted in more sidewalk congestion.

"I think there is actually more congestion now, with waiting outside," resident Katherine Kerrick said. "And there's more people standing right there, and I think it's more difficult for people to get in, as opposed to if people are sitting and decide to give some space."

Levin is currently working with the Department of Consumer Affairs to update the law, and craft legislation to allow sidewalk cafes to open before noon.

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Pedestrian killed in hit and run in Brooklyn

  Eyewitness NewsNEW YORK (WABC) -- Police in Brooklyn are searching for the driver in a deadly hit-and-run crash.

A 33-year-old man was killed, and investigators have few clues to work with.

Authorities are looking for a beige, four-door sedan, but that's all they know.

The driver struck Amjad Barakat around 9 p.m. at the intersection of 72nd Street and 7th Avenue.

The vehicle fled the scene in an unknown direction.

Upon arrival, officers found Barakat with severe head trauma, unconscious and unresponsive. EMS also responded and pronounced him dead at the scene.

The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to call police.

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Dart attack injures 3 in Brooklyn

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Brooklyn residents upset over proposed hotel

  Eyewitness NewsNEW YORK (WABC) -- Residents in Brooklyn are upset about plans to build a hotel along East 59th Street and Foster Avenue.

They say it is not exactly a tourist destination, and wonder what kind of hotel it would be.

The area is lined with salvage yards, scrap metal yards, auto repair shops and gas stations, with apartments across the street. It's not exactly a prime location for a new hotel. The company building the project hasn't released many details so far, and residents are nervous.

The empty lot where the hotel is slated to be built is currently filled with a pile of dirt and old tires. Community groups are demanding answers and plan to begin a letter-writing campaign to send to Mayor Michael Bloomberg's office.

Residents say they are not anti-business, they just want more information.

"It's the worst thing you could ever have in the neighborhood," resident Sidney Lawrence said. "It contaminates the area.There are children involved. There's churches involved. I've been on the block here for the past 33 years, and this is the worst thing I've ever heard coming to the neighborhood. We can't see anything positive coming from it."

Councilman Jumaane Williams is also opposed to the project, but there is nothing that can be done legally. The area is zoned for mixed use.

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Calls for justice in case of Brooklyn man hit by police car

The Rev. Al Sharpton at a rally in Harlem with the mother of Tamon Robinson

  Eyewitness NewsNEW YORK (WABC) -- The family of Tamon Robinson joined the Reverend Al Sharpton at a rally Saturday morning, calling attention to the police chase that left the young man dead.

Robinson died earlier this month after being hit by a squad car as police chased him in Canarsie, Brooklyn for allegedly stealing paving stones.

His family says he was unarmed, and they are demanding an investigation as to why police ran him over.

They want to know why the officer who hit him has not been punished.

"The officer that hit this young man rushed to judgment," said Sharpton.

"We deserve justice because my son did not deserve to die like that," said the victim's mother, Laverne Dobbinson.

The family is planning to pursue a wrongful death suit.

The N-Y-P-D has said it is conducting an internal investigation into the officer's role in Robinson's death.

The 27-year old was in a coma for a week before he died.

His funeral was Friday evening.

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First NYC homicide of 2012 in Brooklyn

  Eyewitness NewsNEW YORK (WABC) -- Brooklyn saw the city's first homicide of 2012.

Police responded to a report of a man shot in the Fulton Park Plaza apartment building in Bedford-Stuyvesant Sunday morning.

Officers found a 45-year-old man shot to death in a sixth floor hallway.

Police are investigating.

So far, they've made no arrests.

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More than 100 firefighters battle Brooklyn fire

  Eyewitness NewsNEW YORK (WABC) -- A two alarm fire has destroyed a 6-story apartment building in Brooklyn.

Firefighters were called to 2223 Cortelyou Road in Flatbush around 12:17 a.m. Sunday.

More than 100 firefighters responded to the blaze that started on the 4th floor.

Nine people were injured, including 3 firefighters.

All of the victims' injuries were minor.

They were taken to Kings County Hospital.

Investigators are working to figure out what caused the fire.

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Brooklyn woman killed by hit-and-run driver

  Eyewitness NewsNEW YORK (WABC) -- Police say a Brooklyn woman was killed on Christmas morning in a hit-and-run accident.

Donna Fountain, 38, was crossing Eastern Parkway at Troy Avenue in Crown Heights at about 7:30 a.m. Sunday when she was struck by a silver-colored Audi.

It happened around the corner from her apartment.

She was pronounced dead at the hospital.

The car kept going and police are still searching for the driver.

Police are withholding the victim's name until they can notify her family.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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Woman set on fire in Brooklyn elevator, dies

  Eyewitness NewsPARK SLOPE, Brooklyn (WABC) -- Police are looking for a man suspected of setting a woman on fire inside of a Brooklyn elevator.

It happened at 203 Underhill Avenue in Park Slope Saturday afternoon.

Police responded to a 911 call of a fire inside of an elevator at the location.

That's when police discovered an elevator that was stopped on the fifth floor was on fire.

The fire department put out the fire and discovered the dead body of an unidentified woman inside the elevator.

A preliminary investigation determined that an unidentified man was standing outside the elevator on the fifth floor.

Police say that when the victim began to exit the elevator, the suspect sprayed her with an unidentified liquid and then lit the victim on fire and fled the scene.

Anyone with information in regards to this homicide is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS.

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Man found murdered in Brooklyn apartment

  Eyewitness NewsNEW YORK (WABC) -- Police in Brooklyn are looking for a killer after finding a man stabbed to death in his apartment.

The crime was discovered shortly after 8:00 Thursday morning at an apartment on Lefferts Avenue.

Investigators found the 53-year-old victim dead on the floor of a bedroom.

He had multiple stab wounds to his back and neck, investigators said.

His name has not been released.

No further details about a possible suspect or motive were immediately available.

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182 weapons turned in at Brooklyn gun buy-back

NEW YORK (WABC) -- Officer Peter Figoski was killed by a gun that should not have been on the street.

Saturday, just by coincidence and less than a mile from where the veteran cop was gunned down, the NYPD held one of its gun buy-back programs.

Anyone could turn in a gun with no questions asked.

182 weapons were turned in.

A complete breakdown of the firearms that were surrendered today is as follows:

58 Semi-automatic handguns

95 revolvers

1 sawed-off shotgun

5 shotguns

2 assault weapons

7 rifles

14 others (zip guns/BBs/starters)

Since its inception in July 2008 the NYPD/Clergy Gun Buy-Back program has taken over 7,300 weapons off the Streets.

The gun buyback was held at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Cypress Hills and was planned long before the recent tragic killing of an NYPD officer not far from there.

Many people concerned over the shooting believe it might be what is needed to get the guns off these streets.

All sorts powerful handguns, small pistols, even long rifles were brought to the buy-back.

"Whether the handgun is legally and lawfully registered or illegal it will be received by the NYPD with no questions asked," said Erik Dilan, a New York City Councilman.

Those who brought in guns received a $200 bank card per gun or a $20 bank card for any shotgun or rifle.

Not far from the buy-back is the place where Officer Peter Figoski, a 22-year veteran was killed, police say, with a stolen 9mm handgun.

It's the type of gun they want to get off the streets

Mayor Bloomberg, during his radio show, even challenged federal lawmakers to join him at Officer Figoski's funeral.

"Wouldn't it be wonderful if finally they got some understanding, in memory of this officer, we can't bring him back, but we will make sure his kids and parents are protected by getting guns off the streets and out of illegal hands," Mayor Bloomberg said.

"People are very devastated by the shooting of the officer, people are devastated by violence and maybe this is affecting their hearts and saying it's time to get rid of that gun," Bishop Benke said.

Community activist George Rodriguez thinks the program's success may also be driven by the spirit of the season.

"Actually helps a lot of people for the holidays. Christmas is just around the corner. People need extra money for gifts. We know how hard the times are," Rodriguez said.

The buy-back was held at St. Peters Lutheran Church, 105 Higland Place in Cypress Hills, Brooklyn.

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Nicki Minaj cousin killed in Brooklyn

The News Leader

  Eyewitness NewsEAST FLATBUSH (WABC) -- Singer Nicki Minaj tweeted that her "precious cousin" was the victim of a deadly shooting in East Flatbush, Brooklyn.

Nicholas Telemaque, 27, was fatally shot at East 52nd Street and Farragut Road around 2:40 a.m. on July 4.

He had just left the C-PAC nightclub, walking to his car, when he was shot.

No arrests were immediately made.

Nicki Minaj tweeted photos and said of him, "Lived in Brooklyn his whole life. My precious cousin. My baby. Killed last nite."

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Deadly gunfire at Brooklyn house party

  Eyewitness NewsBrooklyn, NY (WABC) -- One person is dead after a house party erupted into a wild shooting spree in Brooklyn.

The shooting started just after 3:00 a.m. inside a home on Wyona Street in East New York.

According to police, the house was packed with people attending a party advertised on flyers as "Freaky Friday Party."

Police believe it started when two people who were already in some sort of fight bumped into each other, and then it spilled out onto the street.

Donzell Rogers, 20, was shot and killed.

Police said seven shooting victims were in stable condition at area hospitals Saturday.

Police say they have recovered two weapons from the scene and believe it may have been gang related.

Three people are in custody and being questioned by police.

No one has been charged.

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14-year-old boy murdered in Brooklyn

  Eyewitness NewsCROWN HEIGHTS (WABC) -- Police want to know who fatally shot a 14-year-old boy in the head on a street in Brooklyn.

Tyrek O'Hara-Morris was killed on Park Place in Crown Heights shortly after 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.

He was just a few of blocks from his home at the time.

At least three people are being questioned by police, but no arrests have been made. (Copyright ©2011 WABC-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more New York News »

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Group holds "smoke-in" at Brooklyn beach; breaking law

  Eyewitness NewsBRIGHTON BEACH (WABC) -- They say New York City is trying to take away their rights to puff away outdoors, so they're blowing smoke right in the face of a tough new smoking ban.

A smokers' rights group held a "smoke-in" at Brighton Beach on Saturday.

They openly broke the new law that prohibits lighting up at beaches, parks and pedestrian plazas.

The founder of CLASH or "Citizens Lobbying Against Smoker Harassment" says it's about protecting civil liberties.

"This (holding up a cigarette) is a symbol of freedom. Soon you're going to be holding up your hot dogs, your McDonald's, your cotton candy and saying the same thing because they're going to ban that next and if we don't draw the line here, they'll come into our homes and they're coming for everything else," said CLASH founder Audrey Silk.

The Bloomberg Administration says the ban protects people from the ill effects of second-hand smoke.

But this group insists there's no proof that smoking outdoors harms others.

They're planning to hold more "smoke-ins" at city parks, beaches and pedestrian plazas.

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